ER Nurse Dana Shomo Leads from the Heart

Dana Shomo, RN, BSN, is a Nurse Manager Outpatient Surgery/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit at Augusta Health in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

As a leader and a mentor, Shomo is valued and is a resource for many at Augusta Health, and in March, Shomo was awarded the 2023 Augusta Health Leadership of Excellence Award. Daily Nurse is proud to name her our Nurse of the Week.

Other leaders seek her out for her enthusiasm, innovative problem-solving, and patient/community-centeredness because Shomo leads from her heart, is compassionate, and cares for others personally and professionally to foster growth and trust.

Shomo knew she wanted to be a nurse; it had always interested her. So when she was 18, she started working at Augusta Health as a clerk in the Emergency Department and became a nurse in the Emergency Department after receiving her associate degree in nursing from Virginia Western Community College. Then she returned for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Mennonite University. Eight years were spent in the Augusta Health Emergency Department when Shomo and her husband decided to travel around the U.S performing emergency nursing in multiple states and hospitals.

As a nurse in the ED and traveler, Shomo learned to adapt and became a fast learner. She consistently sought learning opportunities and happily returned to Augusta Heath in 2018 to be a nurse in Post-Anesthesia Care (PACU)/Outpatient Surgery (OPS). She later transitioned to a leadership role in 2021.

“When we were done traveling, we knew we wanted to return home to Augusta County,” explains Shomo. “Being from a small community within Augusta County, traveling to many hospitals across the United States, Augusta Health was where I wanted to return to work and continue serving the community I was raised in.”

At Augusta Health, she is known for her love of orienting new employees and students, which translates to her wanting them to stay at Augusta Health. She keeps nurses happy by improving unit productivity, morale, and patient experience. She enjoys celebrating birthdays, holidays, and special events. Her units have fun in the workplace, including Easter Egg hunts and cookie bake exchanges.

Shomo recently completed the Virginia Nurses Associate leadership training and was instrumental during the Pathway to Excellence journey and survey. When asked what values are essential to her as a leader, Shomo says, “being respectful, communicating, being honest, dedicated, held accountable, and compassionate.”

Shomo and her team go above and beyond to provide their patients the best experience and care. As a mentor, she says, “Each day, you will learn from others and teach others. Share your love, kindness, and the unique gifts you have with everyone you meet. Always stay true to who you are and what you believe in. If your gut is telling you it doesn’t seem right, it’s probably not. You should ALWAYS listen and ALWAYS advocate for your patient. Treat each patient as your mother, father, brother, sister, or loved one because they are someone’s loved one. You will never know your impact but know in your heart that you make a difference in someone’s life daily.”

Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.