Emergency Department Registered Nurse Brenton “Brent” Kraushaar was named Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC) 2021 Employee of the Year during a recent ceremony.
“I’m very excited,” Kraushaar said. “It is absolutely an honor. It’s a huge organization, so it’s nice to be singled out. I appreciate all my coworkers and all the support I receive here.”
Kraushaar, who earned his bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Southern Maine, grew up in Solvang. He has been employed at LVMC for about three years. He also earned a bachelor of science with high honors in physical geography from UCSB.
“I enjoy making people feel better,” Kraushaar said. “I’ve always had the motivation to serve and to help others. This job is one that gives me that opportunity. I feel I have found my calling.”
Kraushaar said he is proud of the work done at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. In the time of the pandemic, he added it is nice to feel supported by the community.
“It’s a difficult job,” he said. “It’s much harder than before. There are a lot of new challenges. It’s been very challenging. All of us are doing our very best to weather the storm and keep on trying. We keep on coming back. It’s been amazing, the amount of fortitude, we all have.”
Steve Popkin, CEO, said there were a number of great nominees and that it is a difficult choice to decide upon the top employee. Kraushaar was chosen from among 14 other Employee of the Quarter nominees named last year.
“This is one of my favorite things to do because we get to recognize many of our stellar employees, and there are a lot more stellar employees than Employees of the Quarter,” Popkin said. “The Employee of the Year really exemplifies everything we hope for from all our employees and ourselves as well.”
Emergency Department director Ryan Stevens said Kraushaar always cares for patients “without judgment, with an open mind and heart, despite their circumstances.” He called Kraushaar “an exceptional human being.”