Her clothing and workspace may be sterile, but Nancy Moyers’ positive attitude is contagious - VUMC News

Nancy Moyers, certified pharmacy technician at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, spends most of her shift in an IV room wearing a mask over her face, bouffant cap over her hair, shoe covers, a gown and gloves so that nothing transfers from her to the lifesaving medication she makes for pediatric patients. And somehow, she’s anything but invisible.

“One would think it could be difficult to exhibit the VUMC Credo when most of your day is spent gowned up in full sterile garb working in a pharmacy clean room. But believe me, it is entirely possible to display the Credo through the glass window with an exuberant wave and a smile that is clear, even with a masked face with only eyes exposed,” said one of the people who nominated her for a Credo Award. “The work that Nancy does every day is tedious and challenging. But every moment she spends preparing sterile products and performing other critical tasks for our pediatric patients, Nancy has a joy on her face that can’t be missed.”

For her commitment to patient care, Moyers was named a Credo Award winner at the recent VUMC Leadership Assembly.

Moyers, who grew up in France where her parents immigrated after fleeing the Khmer Rouge movement in Cambodia, said spreading joy is a “selfish good deed.”

“I’ve been in the workforce for 24 years; I’ve worked with all ages, walks of life, races and genders, and I can tell you that attitude is very contagious,” she said. “I never want to be a Debbie Downer, and even though my name is Nancy, I never want to be a Negative Nancy. If I’m going to have a good day, it has to start with me. Telling jokes and making people laugh makes me feel good too.”

Moyers cites training as another gratifying part of her workday.

“When one of my trainees does something great, I give myself a pat on the back,” she said. “However big or small, it’s rewarding to me to teach and pass on knowledge, even if it’s from a mistake I make. If I’m training, I’ll say, ‘Don’t do it this way, because I’ve done it this way, and I injected the wrong bag or wasted this drug.’ I try to pass that on to help someone else be great.”

Off the clock, Moyers is married with three adult stepchildren, a 14-year-old cat and a Great Dane named Layla, who shadows her every move. She calls herself “very vanilla” and says laundry is her favorite chore. Something about the routine, organizational nature of having everything clean and organized appeals to her in the same way the IV room does.

“It’s perfect for me. I like to do things in a robotic way, so I know I did them right. It’s my safety net,” she said.

While she doesn’t interact directly with pediatric patients, they are never far from Moyers’ mind.

“We’re there for the kids. They’re No. 1,” she said. “When I train, I tell people we’re making these drugs for kids who really want to be at home, so let’s make them right the first time and at a decent speed so there’s no delay. That way they can get better and go home to their family. These are not just syringes and needles — they are lifesaving drugs.”

If you are a VUMC employee, you can nominate a colleague for an Elevate Credo Award, Five Pillar Leader Award, or Team Award. Visit the Elevate website to fill out a nomination form. Employees demonstrate credo behaviors when: they make those they serve the highest priority; respect privacy and confidentiality; communicate effectively; conduct themselves professionally; have a sense of ownership; and are committed to their colleagues. Elevate award nominations are accepted year-round. If a nomination is received after the cut off for an award selection period, the nomination will be considered for the next period. VUMC VOICE will post stories on each of the award winners in the weeks following their announcement.