When you’re in the business of caring for people, you want to make sure you have the best team, doing the best work possible. That’s why Summit Place Assisted Living is happy to share that its Executive Director Elizabeth Martin was recently recognized by the Washington Health Care Association as the state’s top nurse in her field.
Elizabeth Martin was born in Whatcom County and had a plan for her life after graduating from Meridian High School. “I thought I was going to be a cosmetologist, but it didn’t happen that way. I decided to be a certified nursing assistant and found out I loved it. I loved helping residents and their families live their best lives, and succeed in their goals,” she says. She studied to become a certified nursing assistant (CAN), a fairly common way to enter the healthcare field.
But she didn’t stop there, and continued on an educational path that took her deeper into the field, becoming a medical technician, then attending nursing school. Soon she worked her way into management and began overseeing teams of nurses at a skilled nursing facility in Bellingham.
Still, she knew she wanted more.
“I decided that I wanted to expand, to move from being the resident care manager to having a bit more responsibility. I wanted to keep growing, and going into a director of nursing job was the best way to do that,” she says. When one of her friends — a nurse — told her about the position opening up at Summit, she made the move.
After Elizabeth had only been in her new role for a little over a year, Summit’s executive director landed his dream job in another state, which kicked off the search for a new executive director. “We met some really good candidates, then Carrie Danielson and I sat and talked,” says Elizabeth. “We realized there would be more continuity for the residents if we joined the two roles together and got me some assistance to be able to manage everything.”
Carrie is the regional director of operations for Nightingale, the healthcare group that runs Summit and similar facilities. She moved to Whatcom County in 1986, and has come to feel like a local, with her own children now starting their adult lives here. She also started as a CNA, then became a licensed practical nurse on her way to a career in administration.
In her current position, Carrie has come to appreciate the work Martin is capable of doing. “She goes above and beyond expectations, and her dedication and her work are at A+ levels,” Carrie says. “The residents know and trust her and know she’s going to do her very best to make sure not just that they’re getting personalized care — not just what they need, but what they want.”
Carrie also stresses that Elizabeth has implemented multiple systems and processes that have improved the quality of care at Summit, increasing the level of competency and customer service in the building.
Elizabeth’s hard work has also been recognized outside of the facility, as well, including some unusually high marks from the people that regulate the industry. “We’re licensed through the Department of Social and Human Services in Washington. There are various regulations and requirements for us to follow, and when they came in and did their audit, Liz had a perfect survey,” says Carrie. “They said that Summit was the poster child of what a care facility should be — and that’s a pretty rare compliment to get from state surveyors.”
In addition to the recognition from DSHS, Elizabeth knew that Carrie had nominated her for an award. But she isn’t one to seek the spotlight and didn’t put too much stock in her chances. “I kind of laughed and said, ‘Okay, and that’ll be the last we hear of it!’ Then they notified Carrie that I won,” Elizabeth says. “I am perfectly happy putting attention on the facility, the residents, and my team because they’re awesome. I’m so much more comfortable staying in the background — and this was nothing close to background.”
Then they got the news: Elizabeth was named the Assisted Living Nurse of the Year by the Washington Health Care Association, a group dedicated to promoting quality care and services through industry partnerships. When they held their annual conference in April, Elizabeth was able to attend their week-long continuing education program free of charge and was honored at a luncheon along with a handful of other award winners from across the state, who excel in their roles as caregivers and administrators in skilled nursing and assisted living.
As impressed as Carrie is with what Elizabeth has been able to accomplish, she also sees that Elizabeth can continue to grow in her abilities. “She’s had to pivot a bit and get more comfortable with marketing, sales, and financial operations, as well,” Carrie says. “Liz has really stepped out of her comfort zone to manage the operations of the entire assisted living section of this community, and I can trust that things are going to be done right.”
Featured photo by Steven Arbuckle
