HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nicky Goering, a Reno County emergency medical responder and director of nursing at Prairie Sunset Home, has been named the First Responder of the Month for July.
The recognition is presented by PrairieStar Health Center and Eagle Media.
Goering was nominated by Crystal Baughman, who praised her commitment to emergency services, nursing and her family.
“She is a true hero and idol,” Baughman said. “She juggles EMS, our community nursing home and is a full-time dedicated wife and mother. Most importantly, all lives matter. She makes everyone in her path feel seen and important.”
Goering said the recognition grew naturally from work she is passionate about rather than something she actively pursued.
“Every day, my colleagues and I show up with compassion and deliver the highest standard of care when people need it most,” Goering said. “Having the opportunity to serve our community in those critical moments is a true honor.”
Goering said she was surprised and emotional when the award was presented to her while she was working.
“I found myself choking back tears of true gratitude,” she said. “Serving as a geriatric nurse at Prairie Sunset Home and volunteering with Pretty Prairie EMS are both close to my heart. It is an incredible privilege to care for our rural community in both of these roles.”
Goering’s path into health care began after she previously worked in social services and took time away from the workforce to raise her children. When her youngest child started school, she decided to return to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hesston College in spring 2021.
She later enrolled in an emergency medical technician course at the urging of her sister. What began as a favor quickly developed into another passion.
Goering has served with Pretty Prairie EMS since the summer of 2023. She has also worked as a registered nurse at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center but said caring for older adults has remained especially meaningful to her.
Her roles sometimes overlap when someone she assists during an emergency call is later admitted to Prairie Sunset Home for rehabilitation or long-term care.
“Because we’ve already met during a critical moment, that established connection creates an immediate sense of comfort, trust and continuity for both the residents and their family as they transition into our care,” Goering said.
She said the most rewarding part of serving as both a nurse and emergency responder is the connection she develops with people in her hometown.
“In a small community, you aren’t caring for strangers — you’re caring for your neighbors, friends and their families,” Goering said. “Being a familiar, trusted face during someone’s most vulnerable moment, and at times then being able to walk alongside them through their recovery, is a privilege like no other.”
