Diane Bailey, an RN at North Valley Hospital, was recently honored with the 2010 Planetree Spirit of Caregiving Award.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Bailey graduated with a nursing diploma from Robert Packer Hospital in 1976. She moved to the Flathead Valley in 1982 and immediately started work at North Valley Hospital.

Bailey practices on the med/surg/peds floor and floats to the Birth Center when she's needed. Behind the scenes, she provides informatics updates by revising chart questions so clinical staff can accurately document patient care. She also educates new employees on Meditech.

Education is important to Bailey. In 2007, she graduated from Salish Kootenai College with a bachelor's in nursing. This December, she will graduate from Indiana State University with a master's in nursing to fulfill her greatest desire — teaching future nurses.

"I encourage people to learn," she said. 'If you're a patient, I encourage you to look into your health situation and educate yourself on how to improve it.'

Bailey has organized a North Valley Hospital team for the annual Climb Big Mountain fundraiser for the past 10 years. She also is active with the Fresh Life Church.