Care More Spotlight: Caring More to Make a Difference

As a mother of seven children, Judy Poppe was probably qualified to be a registered nurse without ever having to step foot into a classroom. But, after her 7th child was heading off to college, that is exactly what Judy did. She went back to school to chase her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

“I felt like that was my chance to see if I had what it took,” she explains. “I hadn’t been in a classroom in more than 30 years, and I was scared. But not too scared to chase my dream.”

That was sixteen years ago, and since then, Judy has proven to be an excellent caregiver. She has worked in Med/Surg, Oncology, Neurology, PACU, and ICU. Her career has allowed her to work near her home in Cincinnati and also all over the country as a traveler. Judy has been with Supplemental Health Care since January of 2016.

Judy’s talents as a nurse are unmatched. With 7 children, 16 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, she knows how to make others feel better when they need it most. An example of how Judy is able to make a difference in the lives of her patients can be demonstrated by this text she received from a family member of one of her patients.

“Judy, I am pretty sure tomorrow we are going to say goodbye to our daddy…I just wanted you to know. I also want you to know that you became part of our family, and we know you did everything you could for him…the way you cared for him means so much to me. Your contribution to his life matters! And you will be included in his eulogy because of your genuine care and concern for not just my father, but for his children… You are truly an angel for the work you do!”

As she is with every endeavor in her life, Judy is passionate about her nursing career and grateful that she has an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those she is caring for. She sums it all up with her typical words of wisdom: “If you can stand at the door where souls enter this world and souls exit, you are one privileged individual!”

Thank you for all you do, Judy, and for being part of the Supplemental Health Care team!