Nicki Maxam, Environmental Services compliance and training coordinator, started her career at TMC in 2008 as an Environmental Services technician. Encouraged to apply for a position by her sister, then an Environmental Services technician on her way to becoming an registered nurse, Maxam took an assignment on Adult Medical/Unit 850.

“My sister started here as an Environmental Services technician and she said I would love to work at TMC because I love to clean. I really do love to clean – it’s my stress reliever,” Maxam said.

In her 10 years at Tucson Medical Center, Maxam has consistently grown professionally … from Environmental Services technician, to supervisor and now training coordinator. “The support that TMC gives to help employees grow is pretty phenomenal. You have opportunities here to have a voice to make changes to improve how we do things.”

Maxam recently earned a certification as a Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Technician trainer. This designation qualifies her to train and certify the leadership and front-line staff in the Environmental Service department. “The certification is a means to increase quality, job satisfaction and patient experience. I am thrilled that TMC now has the opportunity to provide our EVS staff with a national certification,” said Beth Dorsey, director of Environmental Services.

“Being able to show 100 staff members how to do something the correct way for the benefit of our patients … it doesn’t get any better than that. We all have a job to do, and ultimately everything we do is for the patient. You have to bring it back to the patient’s safety and their care.”

She approaches her work with genuine warmth and a friendly smile and puts the patient first. A new initiative in the department of making daily rounds to greet new patients and explain what they can expect from Environmental Services gives her the chance to improve the patient’s experience. “To me, the ultimate high is being able to do something to make someone’s day better.”