Employees June 04, 2009
Nine nurses honored for excellence during their week
One of the enduring Nurse Week traditions that Yale-New Haven nurses participate in each year is the Nursing Award and Recognition ceremony that honors its nurses for excellence in nine areas of practice.
Marna P. Borgstrom, president and CEO, gave welcoming remarks to the audience in Harkness Auditorium on May 5.
"You bring extraordinary commitment and caring to the important work you do," Borgstrom told the audience. "We are fortunate you chose the profession of nursing and even more fortunate you chose to practice it here at Yale-New Haven."
During March, YNHH employees were invited to nominate a nurse for Nursing Excellence Awards in nine categories. At the ceremony, all nominees were called up on stage where they received a specially designed pin and a certificate. Members of the Award and Recognition Committee then named the winner of each category.
The nine winners of Nursing Excellence Awards in 2009 are:
- Prasama Sangkachand, RN, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Nursing Education Excellence;
- Shelley Britt, RN, Hospital Research Unit, Karen Camp Nursing Management Excellence;
- Linda Koch, RN, Radiation Therapy, Preceptor of the Year;
- Kristin Valerio, RN, Orthopedics Unit, Graduate Nurse of the Year;
- Danielle Huseman, RN, General Medicine Unit (10-7), Early Clinical Practice Excellence;
- Mary Harris, RN, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Professional Practice Excellence;
- Suzann Blanchard, RN, Labor and Birth, Excellence in the Charge Nurse Role;
- Mary Ann Meehan, RN, General Medicine Unit (10-7), Outstanding Impact on Patient Safety and Quality; and
- Patricia Gatcomb, APRN, Hospital Research Unit, Advanced Practice Excellence.
In addition, four nurses received Robin Baldini Memorial Scholarships. Baldini, a nurse on cardiac and oncology units before she left YNHH to pursue other interests, died in 2006 at age 42. Baldini’s colleagues honor her legacy by supporting a scholarship for YNHH nurses advancing their nursing education. The recipients of this year’s scholarships are: Lisa Hoffer, RN, Heart and Vascular Center; Carlos Paredes, RN, Solid Organ Transplant Unit; Nicole Seagriff, RN, Medical Intensive Care Unit; and Elizabeth Shinkevich, RN, Neuroscience Unit.
In the picture: Holding their personalized awards after the ceremony are seven of the nine nurses honored with a Nursing Excellence Award. Shown seated are (l-r): Mary Ann Meehan, Danielle Huseman, Suzann Blanchard and Kristin Valerio. Standing (l-r) are: Prasama Sangkachand, Sue Fitzsimons, RN, PhD, senior vice president, Patient Services, Patricia Gatcomb and Shelley Britt. Missing from photo are Mary Harris and Linda Koch.
