MOULTRIE — Tammy Horne, RN, who has worked all areas of nursing during her 15-year tenure at Colquitt Regional Medical Center, was named the hospital’s 2008 Nurse of the Year during recent Hospital Week ceremonies.

Dena Smith, RN, a nurse in Colquitt Regional’s emergency room, was named the hospital’s G.R.E.A.T. Ambassador, a designation created by the Georgia Hospital Association to spotlight the commitment and caring hospital employees bring to their jobs.

Horne, who holds multiple certifications, was cited for her devotion to duty and willingness to “come in extra days or nights whenever any area needs her.”

Melinda Devane, RN, last year’s Nurse of the Year, presented Horne a plaque and read from the nominating letter.

“She truly cares about the patients’ well being,” Devane said. “She also cares about her coworkers, not to mention CRMC.”

An independent panel chose Horne from a group of six nominees, which also included Elaine Russell, Renae Wynn, Dimitra Norman, Kristi Gershom and Anita Johnston.

Smith was chosen as the G.R.E.A.T. Ambassador on the basis of an essay she wrote on what she likes about her job and working for a hospital. The G.R.E.A.T. Ambassador Program stands for “giving recognition for excellence, advocacy and teamwork,”

“It’s about the people and that one person you can make a difference in their life,” Smith wrote in her essay. “When a patient or family member looks at you with tears in their eyes and says ‘thank you,’ you know you have accomplished what you were put on this earth to do … help people. That is what nursing is and that makes it one of the best professions on earth.”