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Rita Griffin Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Rita Griffin
1 Entry
Daniel Miller, Topeka Kansas [email protected]
May 5, 2024
I met Rita in 1988 at a continuing education class at Ouray Colorado. I was there in need of credits for RN relicensure. Rita was the Director of Nurses at Community Hospital and had brought a group of her nurse managers to the class. During a small group exercise Rita the other nurses and I became fast friends. She told me "if you ever need help call me". Months later my employment in Delta became very unsteady. I called Rita who told me "come on down to Grand Junction, I will find a position for you here." I worked at Community Hospital in various positions. Rita always saw the best in me and was a true friend. She had assembled a remarkable team of nurses there who excelled at patient care and supported each other.
After a few years I left full time employment at Community Hospital to work at WCAHEC. Rita and I remained friends and occasionally went to lunch. She provided great support and advice to me for years. In 1997 Rita recommended me to be the Director of Home Health at Community Hospital. Roger Zumwalt CEO, Karen Nelson DON, Lesley Cryer and Starla Bacon (consultants) supported me in my job. Home Health nurses Linda, Jacquie, Laurie, Cindy, Stephanie and others helped me to be the best I could be at being a manager. Rita continued to provide me with great advice and mentored me from a distance.
In 2001 as the sun was setting on the hospital home industry I decided to return to my home state of Kansas where I continued to work until retiring in January 2020. I never returned to nursing management, choosing to be staff nurse instead. I knew I would never find the support and example that Rita had provided and the unique group of nurses I had worked with at Community Hospital from 1989 to 2001.
I still treasure my memories of Rita.
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