Debb Andersen receives Gold ‘U’ for her dedication

Debb Andersen never wants to stop learning and she hopes those who work under her don’t either.

As the nurse manager of the liver and intestinal transplant program, she constantly works to provide compassionate, world-class care and to make sure her staff is trained and equipped to do so, too.

Debb Andersen

“Her kind, giving spirit has been there every day she has worked for me, which is more than 15 years,” said Alan Langnas, D.O., professor of surgery-transplant at UNMC and chief of the transplant program. “She has worked tirelessly to ensure the staff is trained in a culture that reflects her values.”

An example of constant push to learn and improve is Andersen’s effort to bring nurses from Saudi Arabia to Omaha to train under medical center transplant nurses while the visitors simultaneously help UNMC nurses to understand a new culture.

“She consistently encourages and emphasizes to her staff to keep learning and to keep their nursing at quality standards,” one of her nominators said.

Below we hear more from Andersen about her work at UNMC.

Describe your job in laymen terms.

I tend to be the person who is the intermediary between the doctors, transplant coordinators and the floors. If there are any issues with patients, I deal with them … to provide seamless care and to help my staff to do that. We follow quite a few patients, about 3,500 in total. My job is to ensure we provide the very best care for them.

What is your best on-the-job memory?

One day in clinic, a pediatric post liver and small bowel patient was screaming and running up and down the hallway. One of the doctors came out of a clinic room to see what all the ruckus was about. I told him it was the beautiful noise of a healthy child!

Also, I very recently got to see extraordinary care at UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center when my aunt received a liver transplant here. It made me so proud to be able to validate the words I say to patients, families and friends about the amazingly talented, passionate and kind people we have working within our organizations and within our program. She came from Pennsylvania and can’t stop talking about the wonderful people here.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is to be able to help provide great medical care to our patients by working every step of the way with extremely talented and gifted people throughout this organization and the liver and intestinal transplant program.