Each year, the NHS’s Nursing Professional Development Council seeks nominations to award Nursing Awards of Excellence during Nursing Week in May. From 32 nominations this year, we are pleased to announce the eight RNs and RPNs who have been recognized by their peers at each hospital site and region-wide, as well as two Professional Development award winners and one winner of the new Nursing Leadership Award.
The 2008 award winners present at the Nursing Breakfast May 13 were, back row, from left: Derek Christensen; Bev Smith; Jodi Tomczuk; Jetta Witlib; Nancy Garriock; Debbie Smith (presenter); Pam Sheptenko (presenter). Front row, from left: Donna Rothwell (presenter); Sally Larochelle; Cindee Barrow and Nicole Lavoie.
The descriptions provided are excerpts from the nomination entries.
Nursing Award for Excellence in Direct Care
- Bev Smith, RPN, Douglas Memorial Hospital Site Inpatient Medical/Surgical Unit – Bev, realizing that RPNs were increasing in skill base to work at a higher level of full scope of practice, chose to return to school and retake her medication course. She worked with her clinical instructor and made arrangements for her clinical placement to be completed on her own floor. She has continued to demonstrate a positive and supportive attitude towards all staff and has inspired other RPNs to follow her lead. Bev also supports new graduate RPNs and has received positive accolades as the new employees feel supported and valued in a positive working environment.
- Margaret Hamilton, RPN, Greater Niagara General Site Emergency Department – Margaret exceeds the word professionalism. Compassion is another word that easily describes Margaret. She has the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it. Margaret is a nurse, here to accomplish a purpose. In short, she is efficient, conscientious and respectful to all. She takes an up-front approach with patients, families and her co-workers. Her work ethic is contagious and her laughter is sweet. Margaret has a knack for bringing out the best in others – she makes us all believe everyone has superior qualities, and there is good in everyone. As her co-workers, we feel that someone’s life was touched or changed, all because Margaret came into work today.
- Paula Wilson, RPN, Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Site Inpatient Medical/Complex Continuing Care Unit – Paula’s leadership qualities show throughout her nursing. Her fellow RPNs come to Paula for assistance, direction, support. She loves to learn and therefore is a great resource for RNs and RPNs. She can be asked to take on a task and she will follow through. She is a great leader. The students she mentors are well-prepared for their future careers. She makes sure they get every experience she can provide for them and her students gain confidence, which is essential in this profession.
- Nancy Garriock, RPN, Ontario Street Site Peri-Operative Day Surgery – When Nancy was told that RPNs would be giving medications and starting IV’s in the pre-op area, she was enthusiastic and signed up for the course right away. She works as a team member in the pre-op area, assisting the RN with admissions and preparation for surgery. Nancy is always pleasant and soft-spoken with her fellow workers, patients and family members. She maintains the privacy and confidentiality of her patients in the pre-op and post-op areas, sometimes with difficulty because of tight quarters and others nearby. Nancy has volunteered to be a preceptor to students in the RPN program, to share her knowledge and expertise with the students.
- Sally Larochelle, RN, Port Colborne General Site Emergency Department – In the Emergency Department, Sally can be counted on to remain calm no matter what is happening around her and assumes a leadership role when required. She can be counted on to step up to the plate in difficult situations. She works well with her co-workers and is respected by the ER physicians. Sally stays current in recertifications pertinent to the ED program. She can be relied upon to take time to assist and support new staff in the department and has always demonstrated a commitment to nursing and to her peers through dedication, reliability and continuing education.
- Jodi Tomczuk, RN, St. Catharines General Site Emergency Department – Jodi’s interactions with patients/clients show her values align with those of patient/client centred care. Often, Emergency Department clients come in with vague complaints. Jodi takes the time to break down their questions, concerns and expectations. She works with them to meet their needs. One example is a patient who was terminally ill and Jodi helped co-ordinate services for them and their family so they could return home rather than staying in hospital. Jodi has recently begun mentoring. Her organized, thorough demeanor makes her an excellent mentor and she motivates staff through her ‘positivity’.
- Jetta Witlib, RN, Welland Hospital Site Mental Health Unit – Jetta shows respect to all staff and is a positive role model who has a calming effect on the unit for both staff and patients. She helps new staff feel confident in their practices through teaching for realistic use in professional practice. Jetta remains current in practices related to mental health by keeping up-to-date in courses and has been a preceptor and mentor to multiple students and new employees. She also provides information and new research to the unit to help herself and others further their practice in mental health.
- Derek Christensen, RN, Regional Mental Health Clinical Educator – Derek is extremely intuitive of the needs of mental health staff as he does a continuous environmental scan. You expect an educator to know about professional competencies, however, Derek has taken this to a higher level in researching international best practices and from this developing leading-edge education sessions. Derek has become an expert in mental health legislation and is a strong clinical resource to our entire team, including physicians. Through his efforts, the orientation program is now an intensive four-day immersion into mental health and there is a great deal of interest from our community partners, who are now attending.
Nursing Leadership Award (NHS-wide)
- Cindee Barrow, Clinical Manager, Welland Hospital Site Mental Health Unit – Cindee is our unsung hero and is one of the longest-tenured managers in the NHS – a remarkable 12 years of service as a manager, charge nurse for two years and staff nurse for eight years where she has championed and advocated for mental health clients and families. As well as a busy inpatient mental health unit, she also manages the adult counselling of outpatient program, day treatment program, children’s outpatient program and has recently taken on the regional crisis care program. As well, she serves on a number of committees and initiatives. Perhaps most telling is the fact that in the employee survey her staff rated her at 95% for satisfaction with their manager. They feel she really cares about them as individuals. At the heart of Cindee is the utter conviction that a positive attitude results in a positive outcome.
Nursing Award for Professional Development (NHS-wide)
- Wendy Vanstralen, RPN at Niagara-on-the-Lake Site Inpatient Unit – Wendy consistently demonstrates care and compassion for her patients, as well as those not under her care, on a daily basis. She puts forth an extra effort for her patients which aides in their overall wellbeing and creates a positive experience for their time at NOTL Hospital. Wendy keeps patient and staff safety at the forefront of her daily work. She also maintains excellent communication between doctors, nursing, therapy staff and families, which helps provide the best possible care for her patients. Wendy is also a great resource and support for students.
- Nicole Lavoie, RN, Ontario Street Site Niagara Diabetes Centre – Nicole is a very caring, intelligent and hardworking nurse. There is nothing she wouldn’t do or any length she wouldn’t go to for a patient and/or a co-worker. Patients like to deal with Nicole as they feel she knows them so well and is so reliable. She helps patients with a variety of medical conditions to connect with other agencies such as CNIB, Red Cross, etc. Nicole is very updated with all available resources for diabetes and attends many conferences to stay updated. Nicole has been a mentor and ensured she provided ample learning opportunity for the student. She also recently helped develop the diabetes and renal programs to better educate the pre-renal patients.
2010 Nursing Excellence Award winners
2009 Nursing Excellence Award winners
2008 Nursing Excellence Award winners