Mary Beck
Mary Beck, MS(N) '84
Throughout the years since Mary Beck obtained her master's degree from the School in 1984, she has held many roles in patient care, education, research and administration.
Even early in her career as a beside nurse, Beck trained many recent nursing graduates to grow from novice to expert as a nurse educator.
She encouraged and assisted nurses in understanding the importance of nursing research and she herself has published many articles that promote better nursing environments and better ways to care for patients.
As her education and career advanced, her passion for pushing those who work for her to gain higher degrees became stronger. Empowering nurses to learn and grow fuelled her professional life.
Although she has moved from the bedside to the corporate office, she has become an established and respected administrator at Boone Hospital Center (BHC) in Columbia, Mo. She has taken on the 24-hour commitment of overseeing patient care services at a progressive and busy community hospital while establishing a vision for innovative approaches to care and committing herself to improved bedside nursing practice.
As a member of the senior administrative team, Beck's been able to hone her ability to positively affect the direction of nursing and the hospital as a whole.
"Although her administrative duties must seem overwhelming at times, Mary continues to be dedicated to the community by serving on multiple committees," says Suzanne Cram, CEO Desert Canyon Rehabilitation Hospital. "She is an active member in many local and national organizations to further health care issues in her community, state and country."
Criteria for the Nursing Alumni Organization's most prestigious award, Citation of Merit, states that this award goes to a graduate who has distinguished themselves in an exceptional way. This individual brings recognition of achievement in nursing through leadership, publication, research, clinical practice or professionalism while showing a continued interest and support of the School.
"Mary is an excellent choice for this award simply based on her professional accomplishments," says Donna Otto, the School's Alumni Director. "Although it is her spunk, drive and determination, passion for doing the right thing and continual efforts to develop health care as a profession that truly set her apart."
Beck became BHC's vice president of patient care services in 1999, and is responsible for the development and integration of hospital-wide patient care programs, standards, policies and procedures.
Se her vision is to establish direction for patient care throughout the hospital. She oversees the development and implementation of monitoring strategies for clinical practice guidelines, variance reduction, care management and resource management.
As a member of the five-person BHC's President's Council, Beck also helps develop goals and objectives for the hospital. This includes facilitating effective, efficient services and the highest level of customer satisfaction.
"Mary collaborates with leadership staff to create a motivating environment to support patient-centered care and to meet fiscal targets," Laura Noren, director of patient care support services says. "She also serves as the spokesperson for nursing to regulatory agencies."
It was also through her leadership that BHC applied for and was awarded the distinguished MAGNET Nursing Award, the highest award of the American Nursing Credentialing Committee for nursing service excellence.
Beck has always juggled her career, supported her alma mater and sought to make nurses feel valued in their role as caregivers. Keenly aware of the shortage of nurses and nursing educators, she works tirelessly to fight attrition and works for job satisfaction at BHC. Under her watch, BHC has become known for its patient service and for taking steps to seek continual improvement in the area of patient satisfaction.
However, she also gives tirelessly back to the School. She sees that BHC plays a supporting role in helping students enter the work force through co-sponsoring the School's Fifth-Semester Brunch, the scholarship-building golf tournament as well as serving as president and board member of the Nursing Alumni Organization.