BCHC Honors Janelle Tisthammer as 2026 Caring Kind Winner

By: Aprill Murphy

Boone County Health Center (BCHC) is proud to announce Janelle Tisthammer, RN, as the 2026 Caring Kind Employee of the Year, recognizing not only her compassion and dedication to patient care, but the lasting impact she has made as a mentor and educator to generations of nurses.

Janelle has devoted 24 years to BCHC, beginning her career as a CNA during high school before earning her nursing degree from Central Community College in Grand Island. For the past 22 years, she has worked on the hospital floor during night shifts, where her calm, steady presence and sharp clinical instincts have made her a cornerstone of care. A graduate of Albion High School, Janelle is proud to serve the community she calls home.

While she is widely known for her compassion at the bedside, Janelle’s influence reaches far beyond the patients she cares for each night. She has played a critical role in shaping BCHC’s nursing team, precepting and mentoring a significant number of new nurses over the years. Her ability to teach in real-time—guiding others through complex situations with clarity and confidence—has helped develop stronger, more capable clinicians across the organization. Her intelligence and critical thinking skills make her a trusted resource, especially in high-pressure moments when sound judgment matters most.

Dependability is a constant in Janelle’s career. Whether picking up extra shifts, staying late, or stepping in without hesitation, she is someone her colleagues rely on. Her calm demeanor brings reassurance to both patients and staff, particularly during the demands of the night shift, earning her the well-deserved reputation as BCHC’s “quiet angel.”

“Janelle embodies what caring truly means,” said Angie Schalk, BCHC Nurse Educator and Janelle’s longtime supervisor and colleague. “She is loyal, dependable, and a brilliant nurse who brings empathy and kindness to every patient interaction.  Janelle is an incredible mentor and a strong source of support for her coworkers.”

Janelle and her husband, Ryan, have three daughters-Keiley (Radiologic Technologist at BCHC), Karlie, and Sydney. Her parents are Bob and Nancy Luettel. She has two sisters, Kelly Eckhoff and Amy Olnes (Nurse Practitioner at BCHC).

“Janelle represents the heart of BCHC,” said Cindy Lesiak, VP of Patient Services. “Through the nurses she has trained and the confidence she builds in others, her impact is felt far beyond her own shift. She is truly deserving of this recognition.”

BCHC congratulates Janelle Tisthammer on this well-earned honor and thanks her for more than two decades of leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to patient care.