Elgin nurse named 2023 Nurse of the Year at Advocate Sherman Hospital

Jean Lowe is a registered nurse in the outpatient care department at Advocate Sherman Hospital. She was selected as a 2023 Nurse of the Year for her exemplary demonstration of Advocate Health Care’s core nursing values and unwavering delivery of best-in-class care.

Jane Dus, Chief Nursing Officer of Advocate Health– Midwest Region shares, “Advocate Health nurses deliver exceptional, evidence-based and equitable care to help all patients live fully. However, it’s their ability to bring their most authentic selves to work each day that lets us bear witness to the compassionate and driven individuals they are. It is a true honor to celebrate this excellence in action.”

Ever since childhood Lowe loved to help people and knew she wanted to be a nurse. Lowe’s nursing career spans 42 years, 26 of which have been at Advocate Sherman Hospital. Prior to joining the outpatient team, Lowe worked in the emergency department where she spearheaded the quality review committee to ensure department is performing at the highest level possible. Beyond her clinical skill, Lowe is known for her compassionate care and ability to meaningfully connect with patients of any background or demeanor.

“I was overwhelmed to be named Nurse of the Year. I love the work I do every day and was not expecting to be recognized for it,” says Lowe. “My main focus is to create ripples, leading to waves of love and compassion throughout the healing environment.”

Over the years Lowe has been involved in many groups to improve nursing work and recognition including Nursing Shared Governance, Magnet designation and the DAISY Award committee.

“Jean is an exceptionally skilled nurse who consistently delivers care with the utmost compassion. Her generous heart for others leaves a lasting impact on both her patients and colleagues,” shares Susan Morby, chief nursing officer of Advocate Sherman. “Jean is a leader among her peers, and we are fortunate to have her on our team.”

Over 750 nominations for this premier award were received on behalf of nurses from a variety of specialties across the patient care continuum. These frontline nurses represent diversity in their backgrounds and experiences, including honorees with decades of experience and others new to the profession yet already making an impact on their patients, colleagues and communities.

Nominations were submitted by clinicians and teammates and reviewed by peer committees for blinded judging according to each nominee’s passion for patient care, commitment to service, solution-oriented abilities and evidence-based practice.

Advocate Health Care is part of Advocate Health, which employs more than 42,000 nurses across the nation, including 27 acute care facilities and more than 500 sites of care in the Midwest.