SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Health Services announces the selection of Ernie Olson, APRN, Mitchell Medical Center as the District V Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA) Outstanding Achievement in Nursing award winner.

Health Care providers, patients and staff from across the state were asked to nominate candidates for a handful of awards presented at the NNA annual conference. Olson, who is a previous March of Dimes Excellence in Nursing award winner was recognized for her contributions to nursing on a national, state and local level.

Beginning her career at the University of Nebraska Student Health as an assistant, Olson is committed to continuing education. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1970, she received her Masters of Science and became a nurse practitioner in 2000. Since that time, Olson has provided care at Mitchell Medical Center.

Chosen for her efforts in focusing on patient care, Olson said, “that’s what patients want; to talk to an old friend.” She often takes phone calls from unsure parents or has been known to make house calls for those unable to make it into the clinic at no additional charge.

Mitchell Medical Center has been serving Mitchell residents for many years and through the years has adapted to the needs of its neighbors. A full-service family practice clinic with minor surgery, laboratory testing, physical exams and the ability to treat a wide variety of illness or injury Mitchell Medical works closely with Regional West to provide inpatient care and extended services providing a full continuum of care to patients. Olson strongly believes that being a small town clinic doesn’t have to limit your ability to care for your friends and neighbors, it requires identifying what you can do and doing it to the best of your ability.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,300 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.