Pictured: Nisa Baker

Meet Nisa!

If you ask Nisa Baker about her role as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on the Med/Surg floor, she’ll tell you CNAs are the backbone of the unit and for good reason.

“It’s all hands-on deck,” she said. “We’re the go-to person for a lot of things. It truly takes a team.”

At Memorial Regional Health, Nisa is often one of the first people patients and families interact with during their stay. Whether she’s helping with daily care, answering questions, or simply offering reassurance, she approaches every moment with the same mindset: treat others the way you would want to be treated.

“We become family in many ways,” Nisa shared. “Sometimes we spend more time with our work family than we do our own.”

Caregiving has always been a part of who Nisa is. Inspired by her stepfather’s journey from CNA to RN, she knew early on that she wanted to care for others and give back to her community. “It’s just who I am,” she said. “Share the love — that’s what I always say.”

Her path to MRH is as meaningful as the work she does today. After reconnecting with her now-husband more than 20 years after going their separate ways, life brought them back together in a big way. They were engaged within four months and married just four months later. Soon after, Nisa and her four boys moved to Craig to begin a new chapter as a family.

Nisa has been a CNA for eight years, starting her career in long-term care. While she found that work deeply meaningful, caring for those who had spent their lives caring for others, she was ready for a new challenge. Moving to a smaller community like Craig and joining the hospital gave her the opportunity to experience a different side of patient care.

“I love that here, I get to help people get better and go home,” she said. “That’s something really special.”

While not every outcome is the same, Nisa carries the same compassion into every situation. From celebrating recoveries to providing comfort during life’s most difficult moments, she understands the importance of showing respect, dignity, and care. “It’s humbling, rewarding, and sometimes heartbreaking but always an honor,” she said.

What keeps her going is the impact she and her team make together. “Knowing that we helped someone get better and return home, that’s why I love what I do,” she said. “I learn something new every day, and I love the team we’ve built here. It really feels like family.”

That compassion doesn’t go unnoticed by those around her.

“She makes every patient feel very important and is very attentive to all patients, even during extremely busy times — and even if they’re not her assigned patient,” said the colleague who nominated her as an Unsung Hero. “If she’s not here when a patient goes home, they always ask us to tell Nisa thank you and goodbye.”

Her impact extends beyond patients to her coworkers as well. “She always goes the extra mile to look out for others. On busy days, she makes sure each nurse has had a chance to eat, and if they can’t leave the floor, she’ll offer to go get their lunch,” the colleague added. “Nisa inspires me to be a better person through her thoughtfulness and kindness.”

Outside of work, Nisa enjoys spending time with her husband and four boys — her “whole world.” Whether it’s time at the lake or simply being together, family remains at the center of everything she does.

The MRH Way is rooted in compassion, teamwork, and treating people like family. Nisa, thank you for the care, heart, and dedication you bring to every patient and every shift at MRH.