Being a patient in a hospital isn’t a place any of us wishes to be. But should you find yourself as a patient at Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital, you can take comfort in knowing Sheri Dahman is nearby.
Dahman, 53, is chief nursing officer at the hospital on U.S Highway 401, and Dahman and her nursing staff put patients and families first. Those who know Daham said she will have it no other way.
“Sheri’s commitment to our mission of providing exceptional care for all our patients is evident in her approach to her work,” Sonja McLendon, president of Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital, said in a news release. “We lovingly call her ‘Eagle Eyes’ because she can spot a stained ceiling tile, missing name badge, or lost patient at 50 paces.
“She has no tolerance for failing to meet the needs of our patients, family members, or staff members.
“She will move heaven and earth to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors is safe, well cared for and treated with respect,” McLendon said, “and that we all work as a team to fulfill this mission.”
That’s quite the testimonial from McLendon about Dahman, who is the recipient of the Debbie Marshburn Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award, which recognizes Dahman’s commitment to patient care, teamwork, and nursing excellence for Cape Fear Valley Health.
It’s quite a testimonial that the award carries Debbie Marshburn’s name, too. The award was established in 2024 in honor of the chief nursing executive for CFVH when Marshburn retired after 42 years. When you follow in the nursing footsteps of Marshburn, the health system said, you are a health care leader of compassion, accountability, clinical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to improving the patient experience throughout CFVH.
‘What a Privilege It Is’
The nursing profession is not just a 9-to-5 job, with weekends off.
It takes health care skills.
It takes patience.
Nursing is a calling of the heart in caring for others.
“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen to receive this award, as I consider Debbie Marshburn to be an exceptional nurse leader that I have admired for many years,” said Dahman, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Jameson School of Nursing and has been at CFVH since 2005, and chief nursing officer since Hoke Hospital opened in 2011. “She is and always will be a legend in our health system.
“Nursing is hard.
“But it is compassion in action, and what a privilege it is to care for people when they are most vulnerable,” Dahman said. “We get to make a difference in our patients’ lives every day. I share this recognition with my amazing team and family, whose support and trust inspire me to keep going every day.”
Epilogue
An Ohio native, Dahman says nursing is a rewarding career.
“I love what I get to do every day for our staff, patients, and this community,” she said.
Nursing is an honorable profession, and beyond. Nursing, some of us believe, is the most noble calling of all.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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