“K-P” is Wayne Woodlands Employee of the Year

(Honesdale, March 19, 2021)…”I enjoy what I do, I enjoy my residents, I enjoy my co-workers,” says Kathy Piorkowski, RN, a longtime employee at Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart. And obviously it shows! Known informally as “K-P,” Piorkowski was officially voted the skilled nursing facility’s Employee of the Year 2020 by the Employees of the Month of the year before, 2019.

K-P, who resides in Honesdale, has been at Wayne Woodlands since 2008. She is a nursing supervisor, but Wayne Woodlands’ officials say K-P is very much a hands-on nurse, too.

“K-P really cares about our residents,” explains Michael Freund, administrator, “She’s always willing to fill in and switch shifts if we need her to do that.  Residents’ needs are a top priority for her.”

The mother of five daughters admits that 2020 was a challenging year. “2020 was definitely different! With COVID-19, we saw a lot of changes in safety protocols and federal and state regulations related to the pandemic.”

Freund added that a handful of employees contracted the novel coronavirus outside of work and had to quarantine. “But none of our residents has had COVID to date,” he said, “and we work hard to keep it that way.”

As per the Pennsylvania Department of Health, nursing home staff  are tested weekly for COVID-19.

Wayne Woodlands Manor, a 121-bed residence and part of Wayne Memorial Health System, offers both short-and long-term rehabilitation as well as long term care.

Piorkowski received a monetary award and a plaque for Employee of the Year.

Photo:  Kathy Piorkowski, RN (“K-P”),  Wayne Woodlands Manor Employee of the Year 2020.  Photo, group: K-P flanked by Kelly Miller, RN, director of Nursing and Wayne Woodlands Administrator Michael Freund.

For MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WAYNE WOODLANDS MANOR VISIT About Wayne Memorial Long-Term Care | Wayne Memorial Health System (wmh.org)