Stewart Memorial Continues “Path to Excellence” Series with Spotlight on Jess Drees, ARNP, FNP-C

Stewart Memorial Hospital and Clinics is proud to recognize Jess Drees, ARNP, FNP-C as the fourth honoree in its Path to Excellence Employee Recognition Series. This initiative celebrates team members who embody the hospital’s core values, demonstrate a commitment to excellence, and show outstanding personal and professional growth throughout their careers at Stewart Memorial.

Jess’s connection to Stewart Memorial began at just 17 years old, when she started her healthcare journey as a CNA while still in high school.

“I started my junior year of high school as a CNA at the hospital. My mom works at the hospital as well in the business office and so that’s what kind of got me motivated to work at the hospital and I always knew I wanted to take care of people,” said Drees.

Driven by her early experiences and passion for caring for others, Jess pursued nursing at Iowa Central, earning both her LPN and RN degrees. She credits Stewart Memorial for investing in her future through the Foundation’s scholarships.

“I actually received a scholarship through the hospital that helped pay for my nursing school tuition… and I also received tuition assistance through the hospital through the program for my nurse practitioner as well.”

Her career at Stewart Memorial has spanned multiple departments, including med-surg, ER, OB, and clinic settings. Most recently, Jess earned her Nurse Practitioner degree from Clarkson College in 2023.

“I went on and got my nurse practitioner degree at Clarkson College and I graduated with that in 2023,” she said.

When asked about the Stewart Memorial core value that resonates most with her, Jess named Compassion as a guiding principle in her day-to-day work.

“I would say the core value compassion is definitely one that I feel like I contribute daily in my work with my patients and with the staff as well. I think it’s really important that our patients feel that they are well taken care of and truly I feel like that we take care of our patients as if they were family.”

Jess has also experienced challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but found strength in the teamwork and resilience of her colleagues.

“I would say one of the challenges that we’ve overcome personally in my career as well, it would be the COVID pandemic and just the evolving changes that took place and all the adjustments that we had to make. That was challenging, but we really worked together and were there for our patients.”

Throughout her journey, Jess has been shaped by the encouragement and expertise of the Stewart Memorial team.

“My colleagues and Stewart Memorial have helped me evolve in the person that I am today and this profession as a nurse practitioner… the medical providers, doctors, physician assistants, CRNAs, nurses, CNAs, they’ve all played an impact in the role that I and how I’ve gotten here.”

As healthcare continues to evolve, Jess remains inspired and committed to staying at the forefront of patient care.

“Healthcare is constantly changing and evolving, and I think that really motivates me to be a better person and a better provider to provide up-to-date standard of care for my patients.”

Jess Drees exemplifies the spirit of the Path to Excellence series—bringing compassion, growth, and excellence to every patient interaction. Her story is a testament to the positive impact of lifelong learning and the strong community at Stewart Memorial.