|
|||||||||||
 |
May
LVHHN Nurses and Other Caregivers are Honored with Friends of Nursing Awards to Mark National Nurses WeekLehigh Valley, Pa. (May 25, 2006)As a home care nurse, Sherry Walker, R.N., of Bethlehem always tried to understand what families were going through when their loved one was sick. However, dealing with the illness of her father and seeing the nurse-family relationship from a different perspective truly opened her eyes.When her father suffered a stroke, Walker and members of her family suffered along with him during a lengthy hospitalization. Emotionally and physically exhausted, the one thing that held Walker and the rest of her family together was the connection they felt with the intensive care nursing staff. They listened to the family’s concerns, acted on them and kept them informed as to what was happening. After her father passed away, Walker knew intensive care nursing is what she wanted to do. The memories of how her dad and family were treated guide her care every day at LVH-Muhlenberg. Her ability to care for her patients and their families is one reason Walker received a 2006 Friends of Nursing Award. She and 31 other individuals and care teams received their awards at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s (LVHHN) annual Friends of Nursing awards celebration on May 25 as part of National Nurses Week. Themed “Envision our Future: Live the Dream,” the celebration featured a video highlighting award winners and presentation of recipients’ stories that illustrate how LVHHN nurses and clinicians look at care creatively through education, technology and leading research. “We celebrated nurses and clinicians who, everyday, impact their patients, community and colleagues,” said Terry Capuano, R.N., LVHHN’s senior vice president of clinical services. “Through their stories, we are reminded of what makes the health care profession so extraordinary. Not only do we give our best to patients, but we also gain courage and strength from them.” Here are some of the award recipients’ stories: As an emergency department trauma nurse, Laurie Cartwright, R.N., of Allentown is prepared to handle any situation. Such was the case on the afternoon of November 30. MedEvac was on its way. The patient—an 18-year-old female who was 17 1 D2 weeks pregnant who was shot in the head by a hunter’s stray bullet. Cartwright acted quickly to ensure all the pieces were in place before the patient arrived. She secured a bed in the trauma neuro intensive care unit, informed the operating room and the labor and delivery department of the situation and mobilized a team of physician and nurse specialists. When the patient arrived awake, aware of her surroundings and scared, Cartwright looked her in the eyes and assured her that she and her baby would receive the best of care. Several months later, Cartwright was reunited with the woman and her baby girl, both healthy. “There are moments in nursing that touch our hearts,” Cartwright said. “This one will stay in my heart forever.” The compassion Susan Dreher, R.N., of Allentown has for her patients in the pediatrics department is what set her apart. She looks beyond their physical needs, to the emotional and psychological needs of each individual child. She moved a child to another patient’s room so they could play video games together. She surprised one patient with a puppy for Christmas. She supported a 16-year-old girl faced with amputation who wanted to dance at her prom. She decorated a wheelchair for a young amputee, persuading the child not only to get out of bed for the first time, but even to venture outside. She promised a 7-year-old patient she would be with him when he died. As promised, she came from home and sat with the boy until he passed. The following are 2006 Friends of Nursing award recipients: Jody Allen, L.P.N., Bethlehem Emergency Department, LVH-Muhlenberg The Helen Potts Licensed Practical Nurse Award Maria Bauer, Whitehall Emergency Department, LVH-17th and Chew The LVHHN Medical Staff Administrative Partner Award Kay Bilheimer, Coplay Intensive Care Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest The LVHHN Medical Staff Technical Partner Award Joanne Bodder, R.N., Springtown Transitional Trauma Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest The LVHHN Medical Staff Nursing Practice Award Joanmarie Boyle, R.N., Walnutport Transitional Skilled Unit, LVH-17th and Chew Award for Excellence in the Care of Geriatric Patients Nancy Buckner, R.N., Whitehall Open Heart Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest Mr. and Mrs. Abram Samuels Cardiovascular Nursing Award Laurie Cartwright, R.N., Allentown Emergency Department, LVH-Cedar Crest Trauma Nursing Award Sandra Chasser, Bath Open Heart Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest The LVHHN Medical Staff Technical Partner Award Jean D’Aversa, R.N., Slatington AIDS Activities Office, Centro de Salud Latino Americano Terry A. Capuano, R.N., Clinical Leadership Award Susan Dreher, R.N., Allentown Pediatric Specialty Care, LVH-Muhlenberg M.G. Asnani, M.D., Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing Julia Gogle, R.N., Coplay Labor and Delivery The Fleming Award to Recognize the Search for Best Practice Wendy Heil, R.N., Allentown Operating Room, LVH-Cedar Crest Joseph J. Prorok, M.D., Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing Robin Koch, R.N., Slatington Center for Healthy Aging The Fleming Nursing Caring Award Beth Kushner-Giovenco, R.N., Allentown Center for Mother and Baby Care Josephine Ritz, R.N., Nursing Award for Excellence in Patient/Family Teaching Matt McCambridge, M.D., Bethlehem Pulmonary Associates Physician Friends of Nursing Award Wanda Perich, R.N., Cherryville Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest Palliative Care Award of Excellence Denise Pisciotta, R.N., Macungie 6B Medical-Surgical Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest Dr. and Mrs. Donald H. Gaylor Medical-Surgical Nursing Award Judith Post, R.N., Laurys Station Emergency Department, LVH-17th and Chew The George E. Moerkirk, M.D., Emergency Nursing Award April Rose, S.L.P., Hellertown Speech Therapy, LVH-Muhlenberg The Bill Mason Family Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Rehabilitation Services Joan Schultes, R.N., Emmaus Case Management, LVH-Cedar Crest Department of Legal Services Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Patient Care Anne Snyder, R.R.T., Breinigsville Respiratory Care, LVH-Cedar Crest Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Respiratory Care Margaret Solt, Catesaqua Float Pool, LVH-Cedar Crest The LVHHN Medical Staff Support Partner Award Sharon Spagnola, R.N., Allentown Inpatient Hospice Unit Dr. Fred Fister Award for Excellence in Hospice Nursing Nicole Urban-Miller, R.N., Allentown Adult Behavioral Health Psychiatric Nursing Award Toni Valenti, R.N., Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Physician Group, General Internal Medicine Lehigh Valley Physician Group Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Ambulatory Care Sherry Walker, R.N., Bethlehem Intensive Care Unit, LVH-Muhlenberg Pulmonary Associates Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing Donna Wermann, R.N., Laurys Station 6B Medical-Surgical Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest The Rose Trexler Award for Excellence as a Preceptor Breast Health Services The LVHHN Board of Trustees Award to Recognize a Department That Exhibits Caring Behaviors Dental Clinic LVH-17th and Chew The LVHHN Board of Trustees Awards to Recognize a Department That Exhibits Caring Behaviors Intensive Care Unit – West LVH-Cedar Crest The LVHHN Senior Management Council Patient Satisfaction Award University MedEvac The John A. DeCarlo Award to Recognize a Department That Demonstrates a Commitment to Professional Excellence Editor’s note: Please contact LVHHN’s public affairs office at 610-402-0819 if you would like to profile a recipient/recipients from your area or would like a photograph of any of the recipients. Additional information about each winner is available upon request. This page last updated 2/19/08 09:36 PM
ARTICLE TOOLS:
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
||||||
