[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 2 (Friday, January 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DARLENE HIEB

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 6, 2012

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor 
Darlene Hieb, who rose through the ranks to become the Director of 
Nursing at Tuolumne General Hospital and announced her retirement, 
after 30 years of service, at the end of December 2011.
  There are no words to adequately describe Darlene's quality of 
character, competence, and the contributions she made to Tuolumne 
General Hospital and the community. Throughout her county career, 
Darlene has been the model of quality care, love, compassion, and 
loyalty to both her patients and staff. She has exemplified the best of 
what has been offered at Tuolumne General Hospital.
  Darlene Hieb was born with a heart for nursing and a calling to care 
for people. Indeed, her education and 37-year professional career as a 
nurse bear this out. After graduation from Lodi Union High School, 
Darlene proceeded to earn an A.A. degree in Pre-Nursing and a B.S. 
degree in Nursing. Darlene also obtained her license as a Registered 
Nurse (RN) and numerous certifications, the most notable as a Mobile 
Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) and Nurse Administrator. After receiving 
her Bachelor's degree and RN license, Darlene worked as an RN for the 
Los Banos Community Hospital for four-and-a-half years and at the 
Huntington Intercommunity Hospital for two-and-a-half years.
  Darlene Hieb started her career at Tuolumne General Hospital as a 
Relief RN II on February 3, 1982. She continued to serve as an RN II 
until January 1986, when she was promoted to a Head Nurse position. 
Darlene was later promoted to Nursing Services Manager and then to 
Director of Nursing--the position she has held since October 15, 1995.
  Since the decision was made to close Tuolumne General, Darlene's 
importance to the organization grew even greater. When others might 
have left, Darlene rose to the occasion and committed to stay as the 
recognized leader of the hospital throughout the major transitions to 
come. She will long be remembered as the heart and soul of Tuolumne 
General during that season of the hospital's life. It is hard to 
imagine how the phased closure could have happened in such a 
professional, caring, and financially responsible manner without her. 
Through it all, Darlene was able to inspire and engender the loyalty of 
her staff to maintain the quality of care Tuolumne General had long 
been known for until its last day of operation.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the 
outstanding career dedicated to the care of people and the standard of 
excellence brought to Tuolumne General Hospital by Darlene Hieb, and 
hereby wish her continued success in her retirement.

                          ____________________