LVHN Celebrates Exceptional Nurses at the 2017 Friends of Nursing Awards
The moment you become a patient, your view of the people charged with your care makes an impression. Nurses, doctors, assistive personnel, pharmacists and more all contribute to a patient’s experience. The idea of viewing nurse-led care through the filter of the patient’s eyes was the captivating theme of the 2017 LVHN Friends of Nursing awards program held May 4 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. To bring the patient experience full circle, patients or a family member shared their personal connections with Friends of Nursing award recipients through four video stories.
Joe Rappa’s encounter with Greg Addvensky, RN, was a matter of life and death.
Natasha Fredericks recounts the tragedy of her son’s preterm birth and death, and the nurse – Meghan Hoffman, RN – who remained a constant in her life.
When April King experienced a reaction to chemotherapy, clinical pharmacist Misty Davis, PharmD, personally checked on her.
While pediatric nurse Claire Lollis, RN, was sharing a meal with her parents at an area diner, a patient’s father stopped to thank Lollis’ parents for raising such an exceptional woman.
The Friends of Nursing awards program kicks off National Nurses Week 2017 at LVHN. This year more than 700 colleagues joined in the festivities to honor dozens of nurses, nursing unit teams and other health care professionals at the gala. For the last 30 years, LVHN has recognized outstanding professional nursing practice through the Friends of Nursing awards program.
Congratulations to all of our 2017 Friends of Nursing award recipients:
M.G. Asnani, MD, Award for Excellence in Pediatric NursingClaire Elizabeth Lollis – Pediatrics
Award for Professional Nursing Certification – Department Greater Than 15 Staff MembersTransitional Open-Heart Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Tewari Family Award for Professional Nursing Certification – Department Less Than 15 Staff MembersExpress Admission Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
Joseph J. Prorok, MD, Award for Excellence in Perioperative NursingCasey E. Blaxland – Perioperative Services, LVH–Cedar Crest
Professional Excellence Council Physician Friends of Nursing AwardSarah Nicklin, MD – Hospice
The Robert Lurig Memorial Award for Excellence in Burn CareValerie Tomino-Entrot – Regional Burn Center
John M. Eisenberg, MD, Award for Excellence as a Student NurseEmily Catherine Miller – Cedar Crest College
Josephine Ritz, RN, Nursing Award for Excellence in Patient and Family EngagementJennifer Downey – MPS Infusion, LVH–Muhlenberg
Award for Excellence in Emergency NursingGregory Addvensky – Emergency Department, LVH–Muhlenberg
The Medical Staff Administrative Partner Award
- Dolores DeLong-Painter – Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Nancy Schlener – Perioperative Services, LVH–Muhlenberg
- Debra Winterburn – Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Muhlenberg
The Medical Staff Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Respiratory CareColeen Shea – Respiratory Therapy, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Medical Staff Technical Partner Award
- Candice Boyer – Mother-Baby Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Maria Estrella De Tavarez – 4K, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Clara Lorena Granados – Operating Room, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Obstetrical/Gynecologic Nursing CareMeghan Hoffman – Perinatal Unit
William F. Ihrie, Jr. and Elizabeth A. Ihrie Digestive Sciences AwardMaureen Shaughnessy-Toy – Endoscopy Services, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence as a Case ManagerFelix Figueroa – Case Management
Award for Excellence in Neuroscience NursingPatricia Cressman – Operating Room, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence as a Nurse PreceptorConnie Simpson – Emergency Department, LVH–Muhlenberg
Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Ambulatory CareJulia Jurkiewicz – Lehigh Valley Physicians Practice–Specialties, LVH–17th Street
The Bill and Nancy Mason Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Rehabilitation ServicesMelissa Carmody – Rehabilitation Services, 1243 South Cedar Crest
The Alma W. Holland Award for Excellence in Home Care NursingHope McAdam – Home Care
Advanced Practice Clinician AwardLisa Siminski – Hospice
Jeffrey J. Hitchings Award for Excellence in EducationSandra Sabbatini – Emergency Department, LVH–17th Street
The Fleming Award to Recognize New Knowledge, Innovations and ImprovementsMother-Baby Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Fleming Award for Exemplary Performance Associated with the Nurse Residency Program
- Alyssa Petillo – Emergency Department/Children’s ER, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Morgan Kutz – Emergency Department/Children’s ER, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Meghan Reilly – Emergency Department/Children’s ER, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Fleming Special Recognition AwardOffice of Emergency Management Staff
The Fleming Nursing Caring Award
- Lisa Pignataro – Medical ICU/Surgical ICU, LVH–Cedar Crest
- Jennifer Tavera – 6T, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence as a PharmacistMisty Davis – Clinical Pharmacist, Outpatient Infusion, Health Center at Bangor
The Promotion of Patient Care AwardJennifer L. McDonald – Cancer Services, Health Center at Bangor
The Medical-Surgical Nursing AwardSharon Benko – 7K, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence as a Float NurseCarol Stanek – Float Pool
The Florence Nightingale Exemplary Professional Practice AwardDenise Bodish – Adolescent Psychiatry
The Dr. Peter Keblish Award for Excellence in Orthopaedic NursingDonna Czonstka – 7K, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Ardis Gaumer Award for Excellence in the Care of Geriatric PatientsSusan King – 6T, LVH–Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence in Critical Care NursingTanya Wagner – Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
The Legal Services/Risk Management Award for Exemplary Care and Professionalism in a Critical and Challenging Situation
- Kimberly Badillo – Service Excellence Department
- Stephanie Genovese – Service Excellence Department
Lehigh Valley Health Network Board of Trustees Patient Satisfaction Award for Ambulatory ServicesBreast Health Services – Bethlehem Township, Bangor and Bath
Senior Management Council Patient Satisfaction Award for Inpatient CareAdolescent Psychiatry – LVH–Muhlenberg