Nurse Preceptor Honored With State Award

For Maryann Elias, RN, being a preceptor isn’t just about teaching tasks – it’s about nurturing future teammates. As a 16-year veteran at Samaritan Health Services, Elias recently earned state recognition for her exceptional work mentoring new nurses.

“Everyone learns differently,” said Elias, who precepts in Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center’s Ambulatory Surgery Unit. “I love learning and I want to make sure that the preceptee is able to learn and feel supported while they learn. I learned a long time ago that not everybody learns the same way I do, so what makes a good preceptor is working with the orientee’s learning style and helping them understand more than just the tasks – but why they’re doing them.”

Elias was one of 20 preceptors recently recognized by the Oregon Center for Nursing with the 2024 Oregon Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Awards.

She was nominated for the award by co-worker Liezel Ypanto, RN, who said she was close to quitting after being overwhelmed in her new position in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Ypanto, who had been a critical care nurse for 18 years, credits the precepting of Elias for her decision to stay. “When I first started in this unit it was just a difficult transition,” Ypanto said. “I  felt overwhelmed. Maryann took me under her wings, showed me the unit, she helped me with the skills I needed for this transition.”

In fact, Ypanto did not just succeed in this transition but excelled. Ypanto’s work was recognized by the hospital with an Employee of the Month Quality Award in October 2023.

 “Being a positive preceptor and focusing on encouragement and positive feedback strengthens the relationship between the preceptor and the preceptee,” Elias said.

Elias’s career path began with the idea of becoming a doula, however a decision to attend Linfield College’s nursing program ultimately led her to Samaritan and labor and delivery. A manager’s invitation to join critical care changed her trajectory. After completing Samaritan’s critical care internship, she found herself intrigued by the complexity of patient care and medication management.

“One of my favorite things about being a preceptor is I get to see nurses throughout the hospital that I mentored,” Elias said.  “When I see they are thriving and precepting other nurses it brings me great satisfaction. I also like to be very involved with the precepting process and evaluate how a person works best because these nurses are my teammates, and I will need to rely on them.”

When she’s not at work, Elias tends to her 50 chickens at her home and spends time with her husband, James, and their three adult children: Kailey, who’s studying dental hygiene, Anna, who works at a medical clinic, and Marvin, an electrical apprentice.

Elias credits her success to her colleagues’ collaborative spirit. Their unit has built a family-like atmosphere, complete with monthly birthday cards and potlucks.

“We all have different talents to contribute,” she said. “I wouldn’t have the knowledge base I have if it wasn’t for my co-workers helping me. Part of being a good preceptor is knowing who you can go to for help because we don’t know everything.”