MaLinda Krauss receives WHCA/WiCAL Director of Nursing Award

Hayward Health Services Senior Director of Nursing MaLinda Krauss has received the 2024 Shining Star Director of Nursing Award by the Wisconsin Health Care Association/Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living (WHCA/WiCAL).

Hayward Health nominated Krauss for her dedication, leadership, work ethic, and positivity. Receiving this award makes Krauss feel confident and safe that she is doing what is best for her team, residents, and their families.

 “I am very humbled to not only be placed in the selection for this type of award by my team, but to be chosen was heartwarming,” she said. “I just feel blessed to be doing what I do.”

Krauss gives everything to everyone equally, whether it is encouraging a nurse at 2 a.m. or jumping into her truck to pick up staff during a snowstorm. She attends activities, greets residents and families during the admission process, and chats with residents at dinner.

“Her care is not standard, it is exceptional,” said Jennifer Abernathy, Executive Director at Hayward Health.

Krauss’ leadership is where, “on paper, you can truly see her shine,” Abernathy continued. She has mentored and trained numerous nursing directors, both virtually and in-person. Most recently, Krauss passed her state and national nursing home administrator exams, a personal goal for more than 10 years.

“This may seem like a simple thing, but the fact is, this shows so boldly MaLinda’s raw passion for leadership,” Abernathy said. “It was done without recognition or praise but so she could broaden her scope of knowledge to potentially serve her community even more if the opportunity arises.”

Krauss has dedicated her career to long-term and skilled care since obtaining her licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 2006. She went back to school and achieved her registered nurse (RN) in 2015, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019. While waiting to return to school to complete her associate’s degree in nursing, she decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, which she completed alongside her RN in 2015.

“I could not imagine working with any other population,” MaLinda said. “Being with people who need the most compassion in their life when times get scary is where my heart keeps me.”

In her 18 years as a nurse, Krauss has held numerous roles: floor nurse, restorative nurse, weekend supervisor, charge nurse, unit manager, assistant director of nursing, regional support nurse, minimum data set nurse, and director of nursing. She has worked in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. No matter what role she has tackled, Krauss spreads her positivity to those she serves, and it is easy to see her work fuels her heart.

“MaLinda is the glue behind our building,” Abernathy said. “She is the one working like a bee behind the scenes to keep us afloat. It is incredibly honorable how MaLinda can be everywhere and everything to everyone all at once. She is the first to enter and the last to leave, like a captain with their ship.”