Cape Girardeau nurse wins ‘Nurse Excellence Award’

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo – A Cape Girardeau pediatric nurse was selected as a winner of the McDonald’s ‘Nurse Excellence Award’.

“I am here today to award the nursing excellence award for McDonald’s. It is new this year the first year we’ve had this program going,” said Cheryl Farrow, director of operations for McDonald’s.

Carmen Cox Rushing, a pediatric RN/BSN, was presented the award at Southeast Pediatrics. She says she is honored.

“I’m super flattered and excited,” said Cox Rushing. “It’s quite an honor and I’m super excited to receive this.”

The McDonald’s Corporation started the nurse excellence award in hopes of combating the number of nurses that are leaving the work force in the wake of the pandemic.

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, in April it was reported 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic due to stress, burnout, or retirement. The 2023 State of Nursing Report suggests that by 2027 nearly 900,000 nurses will have left the workforce.

Carmen says keeping nurses on the job is hard.

“Staffing, Staffing is probably the hardest part,” she said.

Carmen was one of 25 nurses nominated in four states for the Nurse Excellence Award.

“So Carmen was awarded a $100 gift card and we just wanted to say thank you to her because nurses work hand in hand with our local charity which is RMHC, The Ronald McDonald House Charities,” said Farrow.

Because nurses truly are the heart of healthcare.