Honoring Heroes: Celebrating Registered Nurses at Interwell Health
Nurses provide indispensable contributions in healthcare and are often the first touchpoint for many patients. Registered nurses Beth Lester and Mary Moore have a deep understanding of their patients’ needs and work tirelessly to improve their quality of life.
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From Curious Beginnings to Passionate Care
Beth Lester's path into nursing wasn’t conventional. Initially working as an administrative assistant at Fresenius Medical Care, she found herself inspired by the world of dialysis and kidney care. At 35 she decided to go back to school to pursue a nursing degree. Since then, she’s embraced roles as a float nurse, charge nurse, clinic manager, and now a renal care coordinator at Interwell. Throughout her career, Beth’s passion for improving patient outcomes has only deepened.
At Interwell, Beth’s days are a dynamic blend of patient care, team collaboration, and meticulous planning. She works closely with patients, helping them understand their treatment options and managing personalized care plans to optimize outcomes. Beth also acts as a vital link between Interwell’s clinical team and patients, ensuring communication is clear and coordinated. Her responsibilities include monitoring clinical data, addressing concerns, and providing education to empower patients in managing their health. Despite the challenges, Beth finds fulfillment in building trust and fostering positive changes in her patients’ lives every day.
“Patients truly lean on their nurses,” Beth explains. “It’s about being there for your community, helping those in need, and making them feel better when they’re at their most vulnerable.” She treasures the connections she forms with her patients, saying, “You build relationships that go beyond just providing care. Seeing the difference you’ve made in someone’s life is deeply rewarding.”
Beth expresses profound gratitude for her fellow nurses. “Thank you for your unwavering collaboration and support. Nursing takes a village, and we lean on each other every day to deliver the best care possible.”
To those new to the profession, Beth offers encouraging words: “Nursing may be challenging, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. The impact you make on your patients’ lives is worth every effort.”
A Dedicated Champion for Kidney Health
Mary Moore’s path to nursing started earlier than most. Inspired by a fourth-grade book report on Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, Mary decided nursing would be her life’s purpose. Life took her on a detour, however, and it wasn’t until age 35 that she enrolled in nursing school. She graduated at 37 and has since dedicated her career to improving the lives of her patients.
As a renal care coordinator at Interwell, Mary’s role is multifaceted and demanding. Her days are spent ensuring patients are educated about kidney disease and prepared to optimally transition to dialysis if needed, coordinating care with surgeons and specialists, and addressing barriers to treatment such as dialysis access issues and helping reduce missed appointments. Despite the rigorous workload, Mary thrives on building trusting relationships with her patients, empowering them through education, and comforting them during vulnerable moments.
Her personal connection to kidney care has been a driving force in her work. “When I was first approached about working in dialysis, I was hesitant,” Mary recalls, reflecting on her initial concern about the complexity of dialysis machines. But this changed in 2008 when she gave it a chance, motivated not only by a curiosity for the field but also by her personal experience. Mary had two family members affected by polycystic kidney disease who both underwent dialysis and received kidney transplants. Witnessing their journeys gave her a front-row perspective on the challenges kidney patients face and fueled her passion for providing better support and education to those in similar situations.
To Mary, nursing is about more than completing tasks—it’s about advocacy, empathy, and purpose. “We laugh, we cry, we mourn, and we celebrate with our patients every day,” she says. “It’s a calling, and it gives my life meaning.”
Mary has a message to her fellow nurses in the form of an anonymous quote that she read on dailynurse.com and finds inspiring: “Nursing is not for the faint of heart—it’s for the strong, compassionate, and dedicated. Every one of us makes a difference, and this is the time to celebrate our hard work and commitment.”