Local Nurse Honored for Helping Family Facing Homelessness

Jamestown Regional Medical Center on November 14 recognized emergency department nurse Paige Wilen with the Legend Award, JRMC's highest employee recognition, for advocating on behalf of a patient and their family who were facing homelessness. Hospital leaders said Wilen not only arranged immediate shelter but also coordinated with local agencies to help the family obtain longer term resources, actions the hospital framed as preserving dignity while providing safety and support.

According to JRMC, Wilen personally paid for a hotel room to ensure the family had a safe place to stay while she worked with community partners to find more sustainable solutions. Hospital leadership described the effort as an example of addressing social determinants of health, the non medical factors such as housing stability that influence health outcomes. The award announcement emphasized that Wilen’s actions exemplify the system’s mission and team centered culture.

The recognition underscores how hospital staff can play a role beyond clinical care in a rural county where patients may face housing insecurity, transportation barriers, and limited access to services. For residents of Stutsman County, the episode is a reminder that local health care providers often encounter social needs in emergency settings, and that individual staff efforts can bridge gaps when formal systems fall short. It also raises practical questions about the sustainability of relying on personal resources from employees to meet patients’ non medical needs.

JRMC said Wilen worked with local agencies to secure longer term resources for the family after the immediate crisis was resolved. That coordination points to existing community networks that can be mobilized when hospitals identify non medical needs, and it highlights the value of partnerships between health care providers and social service organizations in reducing risk and improving outcomes.

The award may also influence community perceptions of the hospital, reinforcing that staff are attentive to patients as whole people rather than isolated cases. For local agencies and policymakers, the incident could prompt conversations about strengthening systems that address housing instability and connecting them more consistently with health care settings. For residents who rely on JRMC for emergency and routine care, the recognition offers reassurance that staff are willing to advocate and take extra steps to protect vulnerable neighbors.

As health systems nationwide grapple with how to respond to social determinants of health, JRMC’s decision to honor Wilen places a spotlight on the practical and ethical dimensions of frontline action. The hospital framed the Legend Award as both recognition of an individual and an affirmation of the institution’s stated commitment to serving the community.