More than 40 people watched Susan Myrick and Marie Staton awarded the Heritage Hospital's nurse and clinical assistant of the year awards Thursday.

Both winners were genuinely surprised to receive the awards. Both seemed consumed with emotion when they heard their names called. Each received a bouquet of roses, pins and checks for their accomplishments.

Patrick Heins, vice president of patient care services, said both the winners were picked through nominations from the Heritage staff. He said that in Myrick's case, she was the easiest choice for this year's award because she received more than 20 different nominations.

Before he had announced Staton by name, Heins called her a "kind-hearted" person who is "willing to help other at home and at work."

Staton started work at Heritage in February 2004.

Heins said that Myrick's philosophy to nursing helped make the decision easier. To him, a hospital's nursing unit can perform their work a lot easier, or have it made a lot harder, depending on the attitudes of ward's workers.

Heins said that Myrick is "always willing to help out" with patients while she's on duty, and that "she's a great asset" to Heritage.

Staton said that she was "shocked" and "surprised, very surprised" to hear that she had won the clinical assistant award. She said "I love working here" and that she loves her staff.

After Myrick's name was called, she said that her "passion for nursing is the same" today "as it was when I graduated 15 years ago" from nursing school.

Myrick started work at Heritage in April 1985.

Dr. Jon DuBose spoke briefly before the winners names were announced. He said that he "marveled at the change" that has taken place at the hospital since he started there three years ago.

He added that the person who most exemplifies the change is the nurse, because of how much more they interact with the patient than a doctor does.

He said the staff at Heritage was "stellar," and gave an example of how much he trusts a good nurse's word.

DuBose said that one time, a nurse came to him about a 38-year-old patient and insisted that they be taken to the intensive care unit as soon as possible. He said he thought the patient looked fine, like they were refreshed from an afternoon nap.

Although he saw nothing wrong, he followed the nurse's suggestion. Soon after the patient was taken to ICU, they entered a near-fatal, arrested state and had to be resuscitated immediately. DuBose said the nurse's actions helped them save that patient.