Karen Konz, a nurse at Park Place Estates in Le Mars, was honored Tuesday with the Chamber Employee of the Month award for March. [Click to enlarge]

The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month for March is Karen Konz, registered nurse at Park Places Estates in Le Mars.

Konz received the honor Tuesday morning at a gathering of Park Place Estates residents in the lounge. She was nominated for the award by Judith Roddy, director.

In her nomination, Roddy wrote: "Working with the senior population at Park Place Estates takes time and patience. Karen has an abundance of both of these attributes. She always has a smile and plenty of time for our residents. She has a way of making them feel very special.

Roddy calls Konz a strong advocate for the health of the residents. "Her assessment skills and ability to converse with the medical providers is invaluable. She is very well respected by the doctors and nurses at both Floyd Valley Hospital and Medical Associates."

"Karen's focus is the prevention of illness. Her timely interventions keep the residents functioning at their best. The residents know Karen cares about the smallest details fo their health and that she will take the time to listen to them when they do not feel well.

"Karen shows a great deal of respect to the nursing assistants and the care they provide our residents. She serves as a positive example for the staff members as well. Together this is a team that respects each other and collaborates to give our residents superior care. That is service excellence at its finest," Roddy continued.

Konz said she was surprised by the honor.

"I was trying to take blood pressures and no one was in their apartments," she said. "You were all here!"

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Roddy assured her that the residents can keep a secret when they need to.

"It's all because of the residents that we're here," Konz said in thanking them for the honor.