SHELTON, WA – Patrick Santos, RN, in the Emergency Department, has not been with Mason Health for long, but he has made a reputation for being someone that his team members can depend upon. His colleagues note that Santos can be easily trusted and is consistently polite and helpful in caring for his patients. For these reasons and more, Mason Health is proud to recognize Patrick Santos, RN, as the December 2024 Employee of the Month.

Santos joined Mason Health in November 2022, bringing a wealth of life experience and a deep passion for helping others. Born in Guam and raised in Adna, Washington, Santos’ early caregiving experiences laid the foundation for his career in nursing. At just 14, he began caring for an elderly family member, who was ill and developmentally delayed. This responsibility, combined with witnessing his mother’s work as a certified nursing assisting and supporting his chronically ill father through therapies and appointments, ignited Santos’ desire to serve others.

“I always knew I might consider healthcare, but it wasn’t until the birth of my first child in 2010 and the incredible care I received from nurses that I seriously considered nursing as a career,” Santos shared. “It was never clear to me how I could afford the schooling.”

After graduating from Adna High School in Chehalis in 1999, he managed warehouses, owned a Farmer’s Insurance agency for 10 years, and managed jewelry stores. In 2014, he forayed into health care by taking a job in hospital registration in Olympia. His colleagues at Providence St. Peter Hospital encouraged him to make the leap into nursing. Santos exceled as a 4.0 student at South Puget Sound Community College and served in the student government.

Santos’ connection to Mason Health began during his clinical rotations, where he was impressed by the supportive and skilled staff at Mason General Hospital. He worked closely with RN Supervisor Jalal Zahir.

“The Emergency Department team, including my preceptor Jalal, was amazing,” Santos said. “My practicum here solidified my decision to work at Mason Health. I am so happy to be here because Mason Health is a great place to learn and grow. I feel supported by everyone, including other departments like Registration, Diagnostic Imaging and Environmental Services. There are wonderful people who make this a really great place to work. I encourage my coworkers daily to go back to school and become a nurse at Mason Health.”

Since joining Mason Health, Santos has become an integral part of the organization. He was nominated twice in 2024 for the prestigious DAISY Award for Exceptional Nursing and enjoys participating in Foundation fundraisers, such as the annual Quality Care Open Golf Tournament. Three separate employees nominated him for Employee of the Month, including CT Technologist Janien Lind-Irwin.

“Patrick has stood out from the beginning as someone who can be counted on,” Lind-Irwin said. “Calling him a team player is an understatement. He understands that it takes a team to care for a patient and that assisting co-workers in his department and outside his department is a direct benefit to his patient. He is consistently polite and helpful, and his patient care exceeds the standards. I would be happy to have him care for me and any member of my family.”

Santos lives in Lacey with his wife and three children, aged 14, 10, and 7.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards and the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/ab.... There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.