STHS’s Nancy Thorne featured on NOLA.com, in St. Tammany Farmer

Nancy Thorne, right, a housekeeper with the STHS Environmental Services Department, is congratulated by Senior Vice President of Operations Sharon Toups on being named one of the health system’s 2020 first-quarter Ambassadors. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo)

By Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

Nancy Thorne doesn’t stop. That’s because she can’t stop.

Since February 2018, the Abita Springs resident’s day job has been as an environmental services housekeeper with St. Tammany Health System. But even when she’s not at work at the main hospital campus in Covington, she’s still working.

“I do art. I like to cut grass. I build fences, wash cars. I can never sit still,” she said. 

So, it’s only natural that she brings that energy with her to work, where she shows up for duty every day on the front line of the COVID-19 fight. And while her chief duty is the cleaning of patient rooms, she takes pride in going the extra mile by creating a “resort” atmosphere for the patients for whom she cares.

It’s that eye for detail – and the positive impact she has on everyone she encounters -- that helped her earn the honor of becoming one of the health system’s “Ambassadors” for the first quarter of 2020.

We took a moment to chat with her about life on the front lines.

What does your typical day look like?

It’s cleaning anything in a patient room. It’s 100 percent based on patient care and safety – making sure the patient is well taken care of. Whatever needs to be done, I do.

I like to make sure they have the towels that they need, the linen that they need. Even though they’re in the hospital, I like to try to give it a resort-type atmosphere by being friendly with the guests. I try to make sure from the time I walk in the room to the time I leave my shift that everything is taken care of.

It’s just my personality. The only thing I don’t do is leave a mint on the pillow.

How did you end up working in environmental services?

Before this, I worked at a child psychiatrist’s office, cleaning and doing administrative work. I also worked at a salon for a while, where I was basically shampooing and cleaning floors at the same time. So I had experience with customer care before, but I wanted to try something new.

What’ something about St. Tammany Health System most people don’t know?

We just got some new UV light robots to help clean and disinfect the rooms, which I’m excited about because it just helps us create a safer environment for patients, guests and staff.

How has COVID-19 changed what you do on a daily basis?

It hasn’t really changed it. I wear more PPE now, but I always pay close attention to detail. It’s the same amount whether it’s a COVID or a regular type clean. No matter what the case may be, I take pride in everything I do to guarantee the safety and the comfort of our guests from the time they come in to the time they leave.

What’s the most challenging part of your workday now, in the age of coronavirus?

For me, I’m good with it. It doesn’t bother me one bit. But being around other colleagues and patients who are more nervous about it – there’s more anxiety. I try to calm them down and relax them, make sure they know we are providing you the safest environment you could ever ask for.

Being around that much anxiety can make the days long and stressful. What helps you keep going? What’s your motivation each day?

Knowing that I’m making a difference for other staff members and patients all the same. Knowing that I give people satisfaction with my cleaning ability and also by being optimistic.

You’re really on the front line of the COVID fight, every day – really making a direct difference in the community. How does that make you feel? Proud? Exhausted?

Actually, I’m never exhausted. I get excited when I get to come in to help.