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Melanie Abfalter is the homecare nurse for my medically fragile daughter who was born without a functioning immume system. Melanie takes care of my daughter everyday (365/7/24) but only gets paid for 5 hours/day. She has become very familiar with subcutaneous infusions of human immune globulin which she administers to my daughter three times a week. In additon, Melanie is a resource nurse for the Mother-Baby Unit of Kettering Medical Center. There she is often called on short notice when the unit is understaffed. She frequently works the second or third shift to comfort and help concerned new mothers. She often is in charge of the newborn nursery insuring that all babies receive good observation and care in their first few hours of life. She has often has identified a medical condition that probably saved the child's life. Comments from new mothers are always positive and very appreciative. For these reasons, Melanie is very deserving of the recognition.

She should be selected for the same reason that I married her: She has a heart of gold. She will put the well being of others before herself, me, and even her own children. I have seen it first hand. In a family situation it can even be a fault. But how can you fault someone for being too caring? I know this carrys into her work field because of the stories she has told. I have heard numerous times how her patients have bought her flowers, small gifts, and hugs from the excellent care they have received. Also, they cheers from the repeat patients when they find out they have her as a nurse again. To me that says it all. The patients should all be polled. They are the most important. I'm sure there would be no contest if it could be done. Please give her serius consideation. Thank-you.

Ms. Allison took care of my husband who was a resident at the facility, He received excellent care above and beyond. She comforted him and calmed his fears since he has Alzheimers and gets easily upset. She was patient, professional and caring, she also assisted his family in obtaining home health care for when he was able to come home. She is a very dedicated nurse and from what I understand never missed a day of work. Her patients are her number one priority and it shows. She has even called to follow up on his care. I would like to have her as my nurse should I need one.

This person is always willing to take an admission or start a difficult iv in the unit. She always is a pleasure to work with. Her clinical skills are excellent and her years of experience in the nicu are a great asset.

This nurse exemplifies the commitment that mvh should expect from all their nurses. She is diligent in caring for the smallest infants within our unit and their families. She is also willing to take the most difficult assignments even if it means she may have to stay past her shift in order to stabilize the infant. Her critical thinking skills as well as her iv skills are excellent. She is a valuableassett to our pcvc team and is able to place a picc line in some of the most impossible infants. She has come in on her day off to place picc lines and stayed after her shift as well to ensure that an infant has the needed iv access in order to maintain their fluid and nutrition status. She never shies away from those assignments that may be busier, and in fact is willing to run response in order to stay busy. In her down time, she stocks carts, cleans and empties trash, and the like to improve the appearance of the unit – especially needful when we donot have an ec assigned. She also is willing to help her team mates at any time.

This nurse has made a strong effort over the last year to become a distinguished leader within our unit. She has achieved her certification in high risk neonatal nursing and applied/attained a level iii in the clinical ladder this past year. She believes in keeping her knowledge base current and is aware of changes that may affect the care she provides to these infants by reviewing current literature, attending inservices and being a part of the research committee within our unit. Her experience here at mvh has provided her with a wealth of knowledge that she shares with new employees and students. She is an excellent resource when someone is caring for a very critically ill infant. Her love of nursing and caring for these neonates is evident in how she cares for the infants. Her laughter is appreciated by her co-workers and her sense of humor can ease the most tense moments. With her star shining brightly, she becomes an example for us in the nicu to emulate.

Amy Arnett of Gem City Home Health Care was the nurse for my husband, Art Valerio. She is a wonderful nurse, everything that a home health care nurse should be plus more. My husband had a severe lung condition and had been sick for several years. He became very sick a year ago and he did pass away this past March. Because of our nurse, Amy, my husband was able to spend the past year here in our home. For our family, home health care just seemed to be the perfect situation that we wanted to be in. Art was comfortable and happy to be around his family at home instead of some institution. I feel that I could have never been a good caregiver if it had not been for our nurse, Amy. She was so skilled clinically and in constant contact with our doctors. She could monitor Art's condition and knew when we should confer with the doctors. We trusted her completely. Amy was an excellent teacher which is so important for home health care to be successful. I had no experience in the health care field. Amy taught me how to run a feeding tube and pick line. When Art was bed-ridden, Amy gave us tips on how to handle his care to make things easier and safer. She always explained how to care for him in a concise manner. She gave me the confidence that I needed in order to care for Art. When Art's condition became extremely critical and he was released from the hospital for the last time, Amy was willing to make her visits in the evening and on weekends. Without her care and compassion, I do not believe that Art would have lived as long as he did nor as happily. Our family will always be grateful for Amy.

Kelly has been a crictal care for 20 plus years. She worked for Community Hospital before coming to The Heart House. She is a very compassinate person. You never know what she is going to come out talking to a patient about.She is very funny and serious at the same time. She goes above and beyond to help any patient. Kelly has excellent communication skills, she is always checking to make sure a patient understands everything. She is a wonderful patient adovate. Patients are in the upmost highest care with Kelly. Kelly also works so well with the dr's in pur practice.

Kettering Employee Angela Bidwell. Angela is a RN in the Special Care Nursery. "Angela was concerned about a patient's family on her unit, who did not have a chance to eat Breakfast or Lunch that day. (They spent all their time watching and being worried about the patient). Even the Cafeteria was closed (3:45 PM), she came to us, asking if we could find something to eat for this family. We did put together a complete meal for three people and Angela paid for it. Angela proved to this family and to us what a great heart she has, how sensitive and compassionate she is, she was able to bring comfort in moments of distress. God bless her!"

This ace level four and master's prepared clinical nurse is the "Sherlock Holmes" for our unit. She is our swat representative and has been a mentor for those new to that group. Especially when it comes to learning how collect the data for the prevalence study that is reported to NDQI. She also has been the nurse who brought to the swat group's attention the special skin/wound care needs of the Bariatric patient. She even did a learning board that was used for the housewide skin/wound awareness event held earlier this year. She is such an advocate for her patients and specifically the spinal cord population. She is actively involved on the spinal cord team where they problem solve how to better care for this population. She is so committed to others understanding this population that she teaches neurogenic bowel/bladder in the GI/GU disease management series. This nurse also wants to make sure that we continue to look at our 24 hour care continuum and is presently serving on a committee to help us work smarter and harder. She consistently serves as a preceptor and mentor for new staff and students.


This ace level 4 and master's prepared clinical nurse is the "sherlock holmes" for our unit. She is our swat representative and has been a mentor for those new to that group especially when it comes to learning how collect the data for the prevalence study that is reported to ndqi. She also has been the nurse who brought to the swat group's attention the special skin/wound care needs of the bariatric patient. She even did a learning board that was used for the housewide skin/wound awareness event held earlier this year. She is such an advocate for her patients and specifically the spinal cord population. She is actively involved on the spinal cord team where they problem solve how to better care for this population. She is so committed to others understanding this population that she teaches neurogenic bowel/bladder in the gi/gu disease managment series.the patients/families that cares for request having her as their nurse and she works very closely with them to make sure that the care they are getting in the hospital can be transitioned to their home. This nurse only works part-time but often will pick up extra hours not only on her shift but on other shifts as well. She jumps in to act as the alternate team leader and one of the most consistent comments i hear from staff when she is the team leader is not only is she organized but that she is a team leader and not an hour goes by that she is not checking in with nursing and therapy staff if they need help even with her own patient load. She was recently awarded the wall of excellence for her team work. This nurse also wants to make sure that we continue to look at our 24 hour care continuum and is presently serving on a committee to help us work smarter and harder. She consistently serves as a preceptor and mentor for new staff and students. For being only part-time, this nurse truly is dedicated to making a difference for patients/families and her co-workers.

I would like to nominate Lisa Carey as a superior nurse in Clark County. She graduated, one of the top students, in 1986, and worked at Community Hospital before and after her marriage to Richard Carey. When her third child came, Lisa stopped her professional practice to private, with her six children, and anyone else who needed her help and advice. She has also nursed her husband's elderly aunt to much better health and happiness, so the aunt could stay in her own home, always cheerful, kind and compassionate. Lisa has been a tremendous help to her aging inlaws, again, cheerful and ready with advice and loving care. Besides her nursing skills, she has been active in the community, church, teacher and theatre, always willing to be of service, with joy and pleasure. Now that the last of her children is in school, she is looking forward to being an Active Nurse again!

I remember her as my preceptor fifteen years ago and learned a lot from her then and still am learning from her. She is open to any questions or concerns any staff may have; I and others go to her as a resource. She is extremely knowledgeable and is able to teach others. She is also involved with several committees one of which is acuities on the old commuter program. She spent a lot of time putting notes up for helpful information and going one on one with education. She also will stand up for her patient's best interest; questioning any order that she feels will not benefit the patient. She is a very good communicator with staff, Drs., and others that are involved in patient care. She works well with the different departments, and gets consults in a timely fashion. I greatly admire this nurse and think very highly of her and the care she gives to her pt's, and the understanding and education she gives to her pt's families. It does help to be an old nurse ~ oops, I mean an experienced nurse and health care provider.

Let's just start with a comment regarding this nurse, it would be very weird not to see her without an orienttee or student. I remember her as my preceptor fifteen years ago and learned a lot from her then and still am learning from her. She is open to any questions or concerns any staff may have; i and others go to her as a resource. She is extremely knowledgable and is able to teach others. She is also involved with several committees one of which is acuities on the old commuter program. She spent a lot of time putting notes up for helpful information and going one on one with education. She also will stand up for her patient's best interest, questioning any order that she feels will not benefit the patient. She is a very good communicator with staff, drs., and others that are involved in patient care. She works well with the diffferent departments, and gets consults in a timely fashion. I greatly admire this nurse and think very highly of her and the care she gives to her pt's, and the understanding and education she gives to her pt's families. It does help to be an old nurse ~ oops, i mean an experienced nurse and health care provider.

This rn has a wealth of knowledge to share. Her patients are very important to her and she impresses this upon her orientees with whom she works. She is a very frequent preceptor and the orientees are lucky because of her expertise. She is also a constant resource to her coworkers she chairs our acuity committee and does frequent audits to keep us in line with what we are supposed to be doing. This rn is a huge asset to our unit. Her contributions are invaluable.

Cheryl is one of those nurses that is absolutely priceless. I may be biased because she was my primary preceptor when i came to this unit, but i believe cheryl to be a very intelligent, hard working, and caring nurse. With so many new graduates and new nurses on the unit, nurses like cheryl are a must. The unit would not run the same without nurses like cheryl. She is always thinking ahead and planning for the next thing to happen before it even happens. What a great nurse!

This nurse is one of the best preceptors our unit has. She has the patience, the knowledge, the leadership, and the communications skills to be an awesome preceptor. This is a nurse that most staff members go to with questions-a great resource to have on the unit. In addition, her orientees are always well prepared for life in the icu after orientation. Hats off to this nurse for her preceptor abilities.

Vicki is being nominated for her superior nursing style during Salute to Nurses Week. She is always friendly and happy to all those she comes in contact with each day, whether it is patients, families, or staff. She has worked for Alternate Solutions HomeCare for two years as an LPN and we have enjoyed and appreciated every moment. She is a wonderful listener and can communicate to her patients with a smile and her bubbly personality. I have followed Vicki in the field with patients in their homes and it is a tough act to follow. Her patients get a big smile and a big hug as she is leaving the house. These same patients look at me and tell me that Vicki is the most caring nurse they have ever had. One 70+ year old gentleman even asked me if she was married because he was looking for another wife!! She has exceptional people skills which makes her a wonderful homecare nurse. From a technical standpoint, she has done very well working with the hand-held computers as long as she does not drop it in a puddle-this a standing joke between Vicki and the IT department. We truly value her nursing abilities and the personal attention that she provides to all her patients.

I really would like for Tiffany to be acknowledged because the morning of my delivery she was called in around 5-6am because of how busy the nurses on staff were that morning. She came in to complete the last hour or so of that shift, or atleast that is what she anticipated. Tiffany stayed with me until the delivery of my baby at aroun 10:30am. A delivery can be a very overwhelming experience and she coached me and made me feel so comfortable. I am so proud of her strong clinical skills because she knew when my baby was coming MADE me call my husband and get his butt to the hospital - in which he arrived just in time at 9 or so. She told me that she knew my baby was coming and would stay to see me through the delivery. She was excellent in communicating the reasons for his drop in heart rate with every contraction and reassured me it was just a cord around his neck, which also turned out to be the case. She is an excellent nurse and I hope that you will help me in showing her that she is.

I would like to nominate Karen Davis from the PICU at Dayton Children's. Karen is a day shift charge nurse and member of the Mobile Intensive Care Unit team at Dayton Children's. Karen has very strong clinical skills. She frequently orients new employees to the unit and she also readily works with nursing students. She can comfortably care for the sickest child in the unit, and she collaborates well with the intensivists related to the patient's plan of care. She is a very strong patient and family advocate. She works with the Caps for Kids program which provides autographed hats for children receiving chemotherapy. She loves working with this group and she enjoys giving these hats to the children. This is just on example of how she advocates for children. She is a very compassionate person, and she always spends extra time with the families and/or the patients to make sure that all of their needs are met. She is excellent with family education and she takes the time to answer all of their questions. she is also a charge nurse in the unit, and she is a strong leader for the group. I am very happy to nominate Karen for the salute to nursing, she is an excellent clinican, mentor and advocate and Dayton Children's is lucky to have her.

This wonderful nurse does two of these jobs - she is the main nurse for the tubal ligation clinic. This means she works with a different resident doctor every two months, and helps screen and counsel patients regarding the choices for permanent birth control. Her second special job in our unit is teaching a series of group classes to pregnant Hispanic patients and their families. Even though there is an interpreter to help with communication, this nurse speaks quite a bit of Spanish and she has even taken some recent college courses to improve her skills. She is kind, funny, and is often seen volunteering to help others in our work group if she is caught up. She is an expert and is accountable for patient advocacy and performance improvement. She willingly mentors and teaches students, orientees and coworkers. She is creative and holistic in her approach and she readily collaborates with the interdisciplinary team. When I look at the core beliefs mentioned in your contest, she meets everything you emphasized in her everyday practice. She is an excellent nurse.

Some of the nurses in my unit have special designations and perform unique duties r/t their job assignments and expertise. This wonderful nurse does two of these jobs - she is the main nurse for the tubal ligation clinic. This means she works with a different resident doctor every two months, and helps screen and counsel patients regarding the choices for permanent birth control. She is quite knowledgeable about essure, a new procedure similar to tubal ligation, yet less invasive with a quicker recovery. She makes sure we have the literature for the patients to read, to help them make an informed choice. When they decide what they want, and the doctor clears them for the procedure, this nurse coordinates with the doctors' schedules and actually schedules the patients in the surgery area. She then notifies the patients of their appointments and follows up with them after surgery to make sure things are on the right track. She is always busy with her regular duties in our clinic, but i also see her running around, answering extra phone calls about the surgeries, and faxing things back and forth as needed. She is extremely hard working, dedicated to giving the best care and taking the time needed to do a thorough job. This is the nurse you would want taking care of you if you had a choice! Her second special job in our unit is teaching a series of group classes to pregnant hispanic patients and their families. We call it comenzando bien. The patients are grouped together by their due dates, and come to a total of 7 classes. We have special handouts, tapes and posters. In the hispanic class you do have an interpreter to help with communication, but this nurse speaks quite a bit of spanish. She has even taken some recent college courses to improve her skills. It is impressive watching her teach these patients what they need to know to make the most of this special time in their lives. This nurse has many years of experience, and is quite an expert at teaching childbirth classes, as she formerly had a job in the birth and family education department. She is kind, funny, and is often seen volunteering to help others in our work group if she is caught up. She is deserving of the highest praise as a nurse. It has been my pleasure to work with her for many years. She keeps getting better with time. When i look at the core beliefs mentioned above i feel she meets everything you emphasized in her everyday practice. She is an expert, is accountable for patient advocacy and performance improvement (she's on the pi committee). She willingly mentors and teaches students, orientees and coworkers. She is creative and holistic in her approach. She readily collaborates with the interdisciplinary team. She consistently contributes to the patients' care in a unique way. She is an excellent nurse.

This nurse excels in the area of preceptorship. She is always willing to take a student under her wings and share her knowledge. I witness many nurses shy away from students because they do not want to be bothered, but this candiate accepts the challenge with a smile.

Moving to a new unit after 15 years causes a little anxiety. This rn helped to make my transition to the new unit painless. She was always welcoming and cheerful. She also is very knowledgable and shared her expertise with me. Her commitment to education is evident as she cares for her patients at every encounter. This nurse had the greatest Impact on my transition to the new unit. Her ability to teach without judgement was an important ingredient in bolstering my confidence. Also, her example of excellent patient care was a great example for a new member of the staff. I would like to thank this nurse for the easy transition to a new unit.

I would like to nominate this nurse for her contributions to the education of our spanish Speaking patients. She volunteered to step into this role and has taken an active interest in learning some of the language as well as providing quality care to a group of patients that are very difficult to communicate with. She is creative in her care, is forced to think outside of the box and with the help of an interpreter she is able to get necessary information clearly across to the patients regarding their pregnancy during each of their appointments. She collaborates her care with another rn, dietician, sw, cnm/np as well as the interpreter but she is really the one who develops and puts the initial plan into action. She spends endless hours of her time figuring out the best way to provide a specialized plan of care to a special group of our patients. The communication barrier is enormous but she has figured out a way to communicate and get valuable information across to the patient which makes the patient better prepared for her pregnancy as well as the delivery of her newborn. It takes lots of special materials such as handouts, teaching guides, etc in the spanish language and this nurse has made an huge impact on the improvement of the materials that we give to our patients which ultimately improves patient care. This nurse is defiantly professional and provides a unique contribution to the care she provides on a daily basis.

To Whom It May Concern: I would like to take the time to write to let you know what a wonderful nurse my wife is. She has been a nurse for 25 yrs. now and still has so much compassion for her job. I will take you back to April of 2003, I became sick with a cyst in my brain. She automatically stepped in and took over. She took care of me like I was a king. Our whole life was changed. It required her to change her work schedule so she can run me to all of my appts. and to my therapy, which se didn't have to do. I am no longer able to work or drive and she takes such good care of me I can't even tell you how good I feel being in her hands. I love Jody more than anything in the world, not only because she is my wife, but because she is such a compassionate woman with a heart of gold. This is the reason I think she would be good for your copy of the Nurses week publication.

She treats all of the people she works around with a positive attitude. When she is in one of the most stressed out situations. She puts the patients needs first when the night gets long and out of hand she keeps her cool. In a place were you have to get in and take care of business she is the first person to be right on top of it. Being a charge nurse is hard in its self but having family trying to push you off of your patient and still reviving the dying person. It takes guts to handle a situation with that much pressure. I believe putting in the time to care for people and standing strong for the twenty or so people that she is in charge of every night is a mountain only a few select individuals can do and do as well as she does. It would mean the world of difference if we didn't have such a hard working strong backbone in an already crazy work environment. I am young and I look up to her as she is one of the hardest working people I have seen in the health care field so far. She has taught me a lot in the example she has set. She has taught me the meening of tough love. Giving her the support of all of us is what a person in her position needs.

On March 23, 2007 we brought our one-year-old son into the emergency room and he ended up being admitted for dehydration and later finding out having rotavirus disease (that was found because of Alys). That day Alys Fleckenstein was our nurse. Alys was there for us for anything that we needed. She went above and beyond her call of duty. She was in our room as soon as we pressed our nurses button getting or doing what we needed. When she spoke to our son it was so calming and smooth. She spoke to and treated him like she was speaking and treating her own child. She always kept us informed of everything that was going on, from what was being given to our son to when we should be expecting the doctor. The doctor that came in to assess our son wanted to give him a certain medication, a medication with the side effect that could lower the heart rate. Due to concern of the medication lowering the heart rate (because his was already low enough)she began investigating the medicine and looking for another medicine that our son could take. To us that is AMAZING!!!! We appreciated that more than words can express. She did find a better medicine for our son and when he received it he did a total 180. We also were not able to understand the doctor sometimes, so when the doctor left, Alys explained everything in "lehman" terms for us. That is how our whole stay was with her. She explained everything to us. It was great because as a mother and father we wanted to know everything that was happening to our son. To sum Alys Fleckenstein as a nurse: WOW, AMAZING, COMPASSIONATE, LOVING, CONCERNED, LOYAL, and TRUSTWORTHY. This is the BEST nurse we have ever seen!!! If we could have told you more about our stay at the hospital, you would know why she is an amazing nurse and why I say she went above and beyond her job. ALYS FLECKENSTEIN DESERVES THIS AWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to nominate my mother for the nurse of the year! Ever since I was, little I can remember she has showed such compassion for others. The kids in my neighborhood would run to our house, to ask my mom if she would look at their injury or wounds. Then in my elementary years, she helps as an aide for some of the classes. In the time in-between, which she worked for Good Samaritan hospital, then decided she would rather work with the elderly. By this time, I was in junior high school and I would help her out with different things she did for the residents there. By the time, I got out of high school I was working in facilities with her, and I got a real chance to see how she really interacted with the residents. I was in amazement by how so many people from a different time and background loved and respected my mom. So many residents would tell me how they were so glad to have a nurse who was my mom, and their families would even say they never meet someone full of pride and joy for what she does. Doctors and specialists would visit and say how much of a delight it was to spend time talking to my mother and speak with someone who was so knowledgeable about what was going on with each resident. They were more surprised by what she could see as an upcoming problem and try to rectify before it would arise. Now I go to where we both last worked together and I sing for the residents from time to time, and I still hear them give her praise. However, as of late I have to see the other side of my mom that is very hard for me to speak of in real detail. My brother has a certain form of cancer and the nurturing side and nursing side of her is working overtime. In addition, she takes time out to go with him to his doctor visits and treatments and I see the same thing she does with the residents as with my brother. Moreover, I am in total awe of who my mother is. Therefore, that is why I feel my mom is nurse of the year.

Linda is one of the most dedicated nurses I know and performs countless selfless acts of service. Linda is an extraordinary nurse who does much more than just looks after a patient. As an outstanding nurse, she touches the lives of her patients and their loved ones by going above and beyond the call of duty. Whether it's extra encouragement at the right time, or a comforting hand to hold, she is a most exceptional nurse who makes a difference to each person she meets. In her 20+ years as a nurse at Kettering Medical Center, Dayton, OH, Linda Gisondi has made quite a difference to her patients, as stated by Charlene Jeong who nominated Nurse Gisondi. "She managed to respectfully address my terrified questions while never for a moment losing her intense focus on her patients. Genuine compassion was markedly evident in her physical tenderness and quiet, reassuring manner." Through her diligent efforts and tenacity, Linda was an integral part as the Head Nurse Manager in the establishment of one of the most successful Pulmonary Medical units at Kettering Medical Center since its inception. Additionally, to her nurse's role, Linda spends her evenings in the local nursing homes caring for over 50 elderly patients.

this is a salute to my sister, Kim hanson, who has been in field about 25 yrs and has shown compassion and such love in her job. I have had the pleansure of seeing her in her job profession as a loving an empathetic registered nurse with her patients of many years. not only has she been a committed and loving person at work , she had has an unbelievable battle in her personally life with her husband. he was diagnosis with acute myelogical leukimia and has been is crucial caregiver . she was also our fathers caregiver in his last days of cancer and was there to swap is mouth , give him his last meal, and watch is last breath. she works tirelessly to give her husband the bes treatment with all the knowledge she had gathtered throughout his battle with AML. iT IT to her knowledge and love that he has endured his last yrs of his life to this best . She is above the call of duty with his fevers, infections and all else when she is a head of the game to keep him in gods hand and safe. She had never had a day off in years because of taking care her family. she has even gone to the brink of caring for a 10 yr old yellow lab who is blind and diabetic , which is injected 2 times a day and and special food, in stead of the alternative. She never has complained and loves her live in spite of the very complicated odds and how difficult life is......she cherished life and deserves to be honored as a nurse and a superb human being.. My sister iks an anbel on earth.. thank you, her sister sue monahan....

Grandview Employee Robert Hemmelgarn. Robert is on 6 North. "Robert always pitches in and helps when he is charge nurse. As an example, one day we were unable to replace a nursing assistant leaving a large load for the other two assistants and causing more work for the nurses. After attempting to have her replaced, Robert took on the entire assignment himself of 11 patients, doing vitals/accuchecks and bathing, in addition to his duties as charge nurse. He did this with his typical good attitude. We were able to get through the day at a manageable pace, we felt grateful and the patient's were not neglected. We all feel Robert is awesome and love to work with him. To top it all off, he never leaves without saying goodbye to all with a hug!"

Brooke Houston is a patient advocate by nature. She works in the Critical Care Complex at Dayton Childrens Medical Center. At times things can be very stressful and Brooke is always sees throught the stress and challenges and looks at what she can do for the patient and family. When a family isn't understanding the physcians, test results, and or plan of care. Brooke is sitting next them and and finding resources to explain everything in detail. No matter how crazy things are Brooke sees through and is there to assist the patient. She spends time rocking the children, finding the right toy and explaining a difficult procedure.Thanks Brooke!!

Excellence is defined as being superior or exceptionly good at what one does and that describes this person. She is self motivated, competent, and compassionate. She precepts all new interns in the orientation program on night shift and provides bulletin boards for education. She works closely with life connections in their procurment program to make things run more smoothly in the surgical setting, in the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissue. She continually finds ways to better organize various things in the surgical area. She has been my mentor and someone i look up to and aspire to become ~ a true asset to this organization.

This nurse continually demonstrates compassion for the patient and families, and has a vast knowledge of the entire surgical unit. She functions in any capacity and when someone needs to know anything they always go to her. She does not show stress, even though this unit can be extremely stressful. You can always depend on her to be calm, cool, and to get you through it! The surgeons even seem more at ease when they see her because they know things will be done precisely and correctly. She's admired by many who know her and have had the pleasure of being trained by her. She is an excellent nurse who puts patient and family alike at ease with her gentle, caring techniques. She explains things so well to patients and families as well as anyone around her with questions, making sense of sometimes difficult situations. She is extremely intelligent and is always willing to pass on her knowledge to others, which makes her a wonderful teacher as well. I am inspired by her willingness to exceed and to take on any challenges in the o.r.! I could have picked any area of nomination and she would have been a wonderful nominee. She truly is a leader.

This nurse works the 10p-6a shift often working over until 7a.m. staff arrives to finish a surgical case. She is one of the most skilled, experienced nurses with a true talent for it. She is the night shift manager and wonderful leader. Completely unflappable and competent, she is calm, kind, caring always puttin patients first. I love working with her when i'm called in on nights because no matter what trauma case rolls in the door, she has it ready to go. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty and do cases herself. She is remarkable at judging whether she will need to call staff in at night and resists waking staff when she can handle a case herself. She will not sit idly by and let others do a job she can do. She has an awesome memory for detail and multi-tasking. She will coordinate the necessary equipment, staff and supplies with great efficiency and with minimal loss of time. She knows where everything is, what every piece of equipment does and how it works. She is a great teacher and an excellent person for new people to learn from. I have often said, she "is who i would like to be when i grow up!"

I would like to nominate a colleague, and my big sister. Her name is Rosa Johnson, and she is a part-time instructor for Ursuline College. She is an excellent nurse who has been practicing since I can remember(35+ years). She recently retired from the Cleveland Clinic (Hillcrest Hospital)where she work in oncology and served as an assistant nurse manager. She displays superior assessment and clinical skills. She has an excellent rapport with other health-care professionals, demands professionalism and expects that patients and clients receive exemplary care. She has set the standard high and gives her all. She has recently moved on, and now works as a part-time instructor for Ursuline College. She enjoys sharing and learning from the students, and she prepares them to become the next nursing generation. She has an RN licensure, oncology certification, bachelors degree in communication from CSU, and a Masters degree. She truly is a life-ling learner, and this desire for knowledge is a true testimony of her committment to patients, and the professional practice of nursing. She is active in the Nursing Honor Society and serves as an officer at our church. She is truly a servant to patients, colleagues, and students. I am proud to know her as a fellow nurse, and even more proud to have her as my sister. Her loyalty to the profession is beyond reproach. She can always be found at a seminar, continuing education or nursing function. I wouldn't be surprised if she pursues a Ph.D. Having worked in the profession for so long, it would be easy to assume that "I know it all" but she never takes this attitude, in fact, she is open to new ideas, research, concepts, best practices and experiences. In sum, she is the best of the best, and I would like like to recognize, acknowledge and applaud her contribution to the nursing profession.

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In September 2006, I arrived home after an emergency surgery and two week hospital stay for treatment of staph infection. With a very large abdominal wound, drain tubes and more, I was extremely weak and very ill. I was somewhat apprehensive about returning home in such poor condition and concerned too that the surgeon believed I required twice daily home health care. However, the first visit with Kellie Konakkuran, RN, of Community Mercy Home Health Care, put all my concerns at ease. Kellie's compassion for my situation was evident every step of the way. From contacting doctors to identifying potential problems to the actual extensive daily care of the wound, Kellie was on top of every need. She always informed me about the care I was receiving, documented well my chart for days when other nurses cared for me and built a level of trust with not only me but with every member of my family. The youngest of our four children is adopted and has severe emotional needs. My illness was particularly difficult for him. Each day, Kellie would take time to talk with him in a manner that made him calm and more comfortable with my situation. In every facet of my critical health situation Kellie made a difference! Kellie now serves as the nurse for Emmanuel Christian Academy in addition to providing home health care nursing services. She is truly an asset to the nursing profession and our community!

Melissa Kulow is a nurse's nurse. She is the nurse who is always there when an extra pair of hands is needed. She is the nurse I go to bounce of ideas when I have a concern about a patient. She always gives good advice. Our unit performs many specialized procedures, and she is the only nurse who can perform all of them. Doctors respect her judgement and knowledge. She is our unit expert. She has rewritten and had approved protocols for our unit, a job no one else was willing or able to tackle. Those protocols are clear, concise and medically appropriate, no mean accomplishment in an era of defensive medicine. She picks up the slack every day and does it with a smile. Her first concern is always the effect on her patients and how she can make their stay easier. Regular patients ask to have Melissa take care of them. She goes over and above the call of duty to ensure the smooth running of our unit - and SHE IS NOT IN CHARGE! She just sees it as being a good nurse. She is a dynamo. If I was ill, Melissa is the one I would want to care for me. "I would trust her with my life". Could there be a higher recomendation?

My nominee has worked at miami valley hospital for thirty-five years. A miami valley school of nursing graduate, she continues to give her patients 110%. She is devoted to her patients and always is the utmost in patient advocacy. This nurse has been an employee of mvh for over 30 years and was one of my preceptors when i started in surgery over 5 years ago. I will never forget how kind she was to me and her reassurances and confidence in me. It kept me from giving up more than once! She has precepted more new nurses than even she can remember, and still does today. She is an example to nursing and to new staff on how a Nurse should behave as well as how best to care for her patients. Her compassion for our patients is apparent in how she talks to them, holds their hand and cares for them after they are asleep. She still loves to learn new things, frequently asking questions, then sharing her knowledge with others so that no new information is not lost or someone is taken surprise by new information, protocols, or procedures. She teaches many small seminars to mental health providers in the community and joins committees here at mvh to continue sharing her knowledge and staying on top of new ideas. This nurse is a true teacher who cares deeply about our profession and the people joining it!

This rn is an outstanding preceptor. Even though she has been an rn at mvh for 35 years, this nurse is still so patient, tolorant and kind to the new hire, interns and externs that she percepts. This nurse does not just do occassional preceptoring either. We have a constant flow of staff that need precepted to this specialty area, and this nurse gets most everybody when they rotate thru her service. In addition, i think something that demands extra applause is the fact that this nurse is not a computer person at all. (i think it's fair to say she hates the computer!) Yet, when we went to epic last fall, she continued to precept ~ without complaint. I know that the added stress of epic was overwhelming to many of us at times, and certainly the added responsibilty of precepting also takes its toll, yet the very first week of epic, this nurse was taking on a new intern. While juggling all of this, this nurse still continues to be one of the most compassionate nurses with her patients. We work in surgery, and our patients are with us during a very stressful time of their lives. They are often extremely afraid. We only share a short time with our patients while they are awake, and what we do in that short time can make all the difference in the world. This nurse is always at her patients' side, holding their hand - reassuring them that we will take the best care of them, as they go off to sleep. She continued to do what she does best...even thru the epic transition, even with the added stress and responsiblilty of preceptoring. Her interns are truly blessed to be taught by such a compassionate, caring, and experienced or nurse!

I am honored to be acknowledged as a nurse in a career that is predominately female. I see it as a challenge to maintain my reputation as being a caring, proficient, advocating, humorous, "down to earth" nurse. My best patient has taught me more about myself, others and the true meaning of life than I could have ever imagined possible. I became a nurse in 2002 to care for my special needs son, Brent, due to the nursing shortage in homecare. We were told he would not live to see his first birthday. From his first days in the NICU, he taught me to take life "one day at a time" and to not worry about things that are an unknown. He taught me "hope" when he received his trach, G-tube, and was on the ventilator. I learned the art of coordination of care and importance of continuity of care with his doctors, specialists, DME, nurses, homecare companies and therapists. I developed the skills to network with the community and to effectively communicate with family, friends and professionals with Brent's own website with a daily journal. He taught me the importance of being a patient advocate. Through hard work and total dedication, Brent started reaping the rewards. Brent was 5 years old when he came off the vent and was decannulated. He is now 8 years old, still has his G-tube, and attends Kettering City Schools. The doctors are simply amazed. He is now teaching me "patience" with his developmental delays and ADHD. Most of all, I have learned not to take life for granted, and try to make each new day a happy one. I continue to learn from my son. When I see my clients, I look at our relationship as a team effort. I provide the guidance to help them develop the skills and frame of mind to put everything into perspective. I try to empower them to be proactive in their care and harness the foundation my son instilled into me. It is important that clients do not compare their situation with others. People are unique individuals and we all have to make adjustments accordingly. I earn their trust through being honest, punctual, respectful, caring and following through with my promises. Clients savor these characteristics. In addition, I strive to provide quality nursing skills with a common sense approach and "thinking outside the box". A sense of humor, quality conversation, listening to the client, and compassion can produce results that most medication can never provide. These are basic needs of each and every one of us. I try to incorporate these qualities into my practice of nursing. The rewards of seeing clients with warm smiles, laughing, and a desire to overcome their obstacles in life are worth it. By Connie Laux Training and Development Manager Doug has been nominated for special recognition during Salute to Nurses Week for his contributions to Alternate Solutions HomeCare, the community and to all the people who are fortunate to work with him or know him. At Alternate Solutions, Doug works as an LPN in the field to follow many of our patients requiring skilled care. He is welcomed into his patient's homes because he takes the time to get to know them and during visits will share jokes as well as knowledge. In the community, Doug volunteers in his "spare" time for the Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs through Dr. Ron Leven's office at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He has helped to coordinate the Special Needs Golf Outing thru Dr. Ron's office which has in turn helped raise funds to increase skilled staff in the office and provide medical care to children in the tri-state area. He also voluntarily chairs the Dayton Area Crohns and Colitis Support Group. As a Crohns Disease patient himself, he completely understands how it takes an entire healthcare team to treat his disease and many other diseases. To those of us who are fortunate to work with him, he is genuinely an exceptional person to talk to and he is a wonderful listener. He is currently back in school to work towards being an RN and he has the entire company behind him to support him in his endeavors. We are truly thankful to have Doug in our company family.

cindy is my sister in law. she went to school full time, raised two kids and has a husband. i admire her strength and dedication. she never gave up her dream and i am proud that i am related to her.

Coloposcopy is this nominee's speciality. She works hard to get patients to come in and commit to their appointments. She follow up with abnormal pap smears, sending letters and making phone calls to ensure that patients are aware of the importance of keeping their appointments. This nurse is an expert clinician! She holds two certifications; women's health care nursing and healing touch, and has worked here 18 years. Not only does she have the knowledge, but she has perfected her art as well. One area of her expertise is in the coordination of the management of patients with abnormal paps/colpo/leep procedure. She teaches them about their condition, and follows them through the procedure/s. She diligently motivates and encourages these patients, as well as all of her patients, to stay as healthy as possible. She also utilizes healing touch with all her patients, and finds it particularly helpful with her patients undergoing procedures. She is a member of unit practice committee and is involved with healing touch in the hospital and is a representative for the community. She is thorough in continuing ed. Herself, thus keeping up to date in her patients care. She is also involved in presenting this up to date information to her peers. She is a mentor to new nurses and students, and new doctors and med. Students. She is very adaptable and cares for patients in high risk and regular ob. Truly, this nurse deserves the top award!

This is the first year i've had the opportunity to work with this nurse although we've both worked here a long time. She is the perfect example of a teamplayer, always doing her fair share of the work and offering to help others. Her documentation is thorough, her work efficient, and she is dependable. She is always pleasant with patients and employees and is an advocate for both. She is a healing touch practioner, an ace level iv nurse, and is certified in ambulatory women's health. She has helped educate others about healing touch by giving inservices to hospital staff and in the community. She is on the practice committee on our unit and participates in our unit council. She is one of our colposcopy nurses and is very experienced and a knowledgable esource in this field. She is always going the extra mile especially with our indigent patient population trying to meet their needs. She stays overtime to help when we are swamped. For all these reasons she deserves applause for her excellence in clinical practice.

Kettering Employee Phyllis Nichols. Phyllis is a RN in the Emergency Department. "It's early Thanksgiving Day and already we are busy. Doesn't look like we will get to lunch...and we're all feeling sorry for ourselves. It's Thanksgiving Day at 9 am and here comes Phyllis- with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy for everyone that has to work today. It's not the first time Phyllis has ensured we would get to eat. Her comment is that everyone is nice to her and she wants to give something back. Everyone has a big smile on their face because we all got Thanksgiving Day dinner after all! Phyllis takes care of us. Busy days that are stressful and trying. Phyllis brings food, entire meals for the staff on a weekend, Spaghetti, green beans, potatoes, and meatballs. Phyllis is always willing to listen to problems and to lend a hand, all the while worried about her son in the Army in Iraq. Her kind nature brings a warm feeling to the ED and her food helps us all when we may be to busy to leave the dept to eat."

Lisa is not only a great nurse but she is also a great wife and friend. She has the compassion with her patients and is dedicated to her position as a nurse. Not only does she have the compassion for all she serves but she shows the same compasion for her family. Her Loving Husband, Rick

Sycamore Employee Stacy Nolen. Stacy is a Staff Nurse Specialist II in the Emergency Department. The nominations read, "We had a 34 year old full arrest with 2 small children. The mother of the full arrest was in the consultation room. Stacy entertained the patient's children by showing them the construction, feeding them, and playing with them while the doctor informed the grandmother about the condition of their mother. Stacy is our unit educator and helped us out a great deal today by stepping out of her job scope, and being a wonderful babysitter. The mother of the full arrest was able to make phone calls and inform other family members of the patient's death, and was able to grieve without the kids being present."

Grandview Employee Kris Olsen. Kris is a staff nurse in MACU. "Patient was very ill, 90 years old and very few family members would come to see him. His wife would get a ride from family or friends to visit with her husband. The wife did not drive and had to depend on others to get her out to see her husband. On a night visit, the wife had no way home and was planning on spending the night in the waiting area until the next day, the earliest someone could come to get her. The wife had been visiting most of the day and had very little money for food. The wife had stated she forgot her medications that she needed every night. Kris Olsen heard the wife talking with the patient and offered her a ride home since she went in that general direction. Kris took her home that night and found that the home was several miles out of the way in an unsafe area. This nurse is and will remain to be an Angel of Mercy for her unselfishness."

Rosie Owens, RN is the Health Services Supervisor at Montgomery County Children Services. As supervisor, she guides the nursing staff in providing a wide variety of services to insure that all the children in the custody and protective supervision of Children Services receive ongoing preventive care as well as secondary and tertiary care when needed. She is a strong advocate for the needs of children in foster care; often communicating with health care providers, foster parents, community agencies, and Children Services staff. She has worked to develop positive relationships with community partners so that the children's needs are met at high standards. Within the organization, she is seen as a nursing expert among her peers. She often provides consultation to caseworkers for case planning and in preparation for reunification of families; making sure that plans are in place to protect children made more vulnerable due to special health care needs. She definitely has the respect of peers because of her many years in child welfare. Her no nonsense approach mixed with her jovial personality definitely help in getting results. She has taught the health portion of lifeskills classes for adolescents, and contributes to a newsletter for the Independent Living/adolescent population. She serves on the Agency's Peer Review Committee, and Child Fatality Review Board.

When my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes we were very shocked and confused. The physician said we did not need a monitor just watch the sugar you eat. We needed to know more information. We were supposed to meet with a dietician but that did not happen. Several other appointments were made and we only suffered frustration. My sister-in-law who is diabetic told us to contact the Champaign County Health department in Urbana, Ohio. She had contact with the Sheila Pena who is the head nurse of the Health department. We made an appointment with Sheila. She was absolutely wonderful. She set us up with a monitor after she checked my husband blood sugar. It was high. She did a great job of showing us how to use the monitor. She was very patient and caring. Most of all she really cares what happens to her patient. We could call her and she would answer any concerns we would have. She told us to sign up for the classes that she and a dietician conduct. It was so informative. She knows diabetes and is great at explaining. We have attended seminars and the dining with diabetes classes. Each time that we have attended the classes Sheila answers everyone's questions even when the questions seem trivial. She takes time with each person. Some people come to class with an attitude but by the time they finish her class they are a different person. She has a way of making people feel comfortable. She goes above and beyond the call of her duties.When our order for the test strips did not arrive I called Sheila. She supplied us with strips until ours arrived. I don't know what we would do without her. Nurses in the health department are vital and a part of the community.

This nurse is fairly new to our unit, but well experienced from her former position full time in the advanced care unit. I have found in my time with her that she possesses many of the qualities that makes a great nurse. First of all she is a good listener. She has been eager and enthusiastic to learn and absorb the routines and idiosyncracies of our unit. Second she works hard. She jumps in and accomplishes whatever duties are assigned, and volunteers to assist others when time permits.i have seen her interacting with our patients, and i have seen her demonstrate kindness, compassion and understanding. She is flexible and has made a big effort to fill in some of the many scheduling needs we are experiencing. She has proven herself to be a valuable asset to us in a short amount of time. I think i speak for all of my coworkers when i say we are so, so glad to have her join our team! As for being accountable for her own professional development - this nurse, who is married with two small children and previously worked fulltime - managed just this past year to finish her bsn - something some of the rest of us are still working on.

She's the new kid on the block, but oh my goodness, you would never know she just completed orientation to our unit. She "blew in" and has taken to the unit like a fish does to water… she is really in her element and is doing a wonderful job making a difference in our patients lives by providing quality care. This nurse is thorough and complete in her work; she takes the time to make sure all patient issues are addressed at the time of the visit. She is a patient advocate and is not afraid to re-visit an issue with a resident if she feels the patient's best interests are at hand. Never judgemental, always compassionate and understanding, willing to take the time needed to address the patient's needs, ready and willing to be a team player, and always interested in learning new things are just a few of the reasons she stands out. Our patients are very fortunate to have this nurse providing care for them. She makes a difference through her approach with each patient, she understands not all patients have the same needs and she addresses this individually allowing patients to be empowered through the care that she is providing. She works well with her co-worker's, as well as the resident staff and other members of the team.This nurse truly needs to be recognized for her contributions. She is one of mvh's finest for 2007.

Michelle is a night charge nurse in the PICU and a member of the Mobile Intensive Care Unit Team at Dayton Children's. She takes great pride in her job, and the families and children that she cares for love her. Families comment about how Michelle always answers their questions and takes the time to explain everything to them. She is a very strong patient and family advocate, making sure that all of their needs are met. Her clinical skills are superb. She has mentored many new nurses as they learned how to care for the children in the PICU, and she also frequently works with nursing students who find her great to work with. She explains treatments and procedures in terms that the learner can understand. When transporting a patient back to Children's she answers all of the families questions prior to leaving the other hospital. She also makes sure that the child is not scared during the transport by using diversional items to entertain them. She works very well with the intensivists as well, making sure that they are updated on any changes in the patients condition, and ensuring that the patient's plan of care meets their needs. The physicians enjoy working with her and they know that Michelle will not hesitate to call them in the middle of the night if she needs them. She is always looking for ways to improve quality care and she is also open to changes that improve the care of the patient. She is a great leader for the night shift staff in the PICU and I am very happy to nominate her for this salute to nursing. She has made a great impact on the nursing staff that works with her.

I was admitted to Southview with preeclampsia and she was my nurse while I was there. She made me feel so comfortable when I was feeling very nervous. She took the time to explain things so I could understand what was going on. She comforted me through severe pains. My experience was wonderful and every time I am asked about the delivery of my daughter her name always comes up. I think she is an excellent nurse and she should be recognized for her wonderful bedside manner.

I was in Fort Hamilton Hospital and went to the Butler County Care Facility. I met Beth when I was released and returned home. Beth makes home visits and checks my medicine. I have been released from medical care. Beth lives in Hamilton and once a week stops by my house and continues to check my medication on her own time. I don't drive or have any family and when I can't get medicine when I need refills she has picked up medicine at the drug store for me.

Cindy Scott is my nursing role model. She started working as a nurse over thirty years ago and has been employed at Children's Medical Center for twenty years. In her journey of nursing, she has gained immeasurable experience, knowledge, and skills that have shaped her into the amazing nurse that she is today! Cindy truly has a compassionate heart towards her patients and their families. No matter how busy the night is, she takes time to listen. I can remember Cindy sitting off in a corner with an older patient with cystic fibrosis, patiently listening as he told about his frustrations with the disease and how it effected his future-he trusted her with his heart and she responded with compassion! As patients or their families voice different concerns, she does her best to provide the care that they deserve. She is not afraid to talk to the doctors or managers in order to provide the best care possible. Cindy works with excellence in all that she does. She is known as the "go to girl" on our floor and can answer any question that the staff or families might have. She always keeps her patients and families updated on test results and their plans of care. She also updates other staff members on pertinent information. She has helped train many of the staff in our hospital into skilled nurses by effectively teaching important clinical skills. Cindy, I hope to be a nurse like you one day!

Cindi works as a RN Case Manager for Alternate Solutions HomeCare and is responsible for coordinating nursing care and therapy needs for 50-60 patients. She has been an nurse for many years working in the ER and in long term care and has smoothly moved into the role of homecare nurse. She has been nominated for Salute to Nurses for her contributions to our company and the care of our patients. From a clinical and technical standpoint, Cindi has embraced our patient documentation software and is proficient in handling the hand-held computers our field staff utilizes in the patients' homes. Personally, she is extremely kind, caring, humble and patient. She appreciates the special needs of our home bound patients and is extremely compassionate with the elderly. She is proud to be available to our patients when they need someone or ask for help. She has been observed working very patiently with a patient with dementia who had lost her "baby" (the doll had slid down in the patient's chair) and was as happy to find the baby as the patient was which was a sign of great expertise in working with the elderly. She said she was happy to work in an environment that encourages one-on-one patient care. She said that it makes her day when she can leave a patient's home and they have a smile on their face. We are so fortunate to have found a nurse who is very professional and gracious.

Bonnie is my mother. I am 35 years old and have watched her all my life in her nursing career. She is now 65 years old and still involved in a dermatological practice in Springfield, Ohio. I believe my mother to be a perfect candidate for this honor as she has not only shown the caring and comfort to her patients over the years but also to co-workers, friends, family members and all she comes into contact with. I remember as a child and teenager listening to the heroic stories (of all the personnel involved because she would not ever take credit all herself) she would tell about her experiences in labor and delivery, always of course omiting personal information which at the time, I never understood why until I entered adulthood. Hearing about how personally affected she would be when a child would be stillborn and seeing the mother devastated and all she could do was to offer a shoulder because many times these women were alone and support groups were not as abundant then as they are thankfully today. Hearing about the countless times that doctors were unable to make it in time and mother would be have to step up and deliver the child. She even worked with the Nurse Midwives Center for some years and helped to reach out to many underpriveleged women and families in the communities of Springfield and Urbana through excellent care and counceling. I worked with her in their practice for a few years too and witnessed it firsthand. I was always and am still swelled up with pride in the character, courage, stamina, intellegence, responsibilities, and constant emotional consumption that goes into a person being a truly wonderful top notch nurse. I wish that all nurses I come into contact with would show even an ounce of compasion that my mother has in her years of nursing. But another thing I have learned is that nursing is probably one of the most demanding careers a person could choose, especially in a hospital setting. My mother has spent the last several years with the private practice because of her needing to slow down a bit from the unrelenting pressures that hospital nurses have to sustain constantly. I have heard people rave about her that have been patients of hers because, you see, because of her, I had a relentless desire to serve in health care too and now have a very rewarding successful career as an EFDA, performing cosmetic restorations. She has touched so many lives, patients, co-workers, friends, family, doctors, and children. She really deserves the recognition for having the compassion and passion for this profession although she would never ask for it. She has always done "her job" happy to be able to do so, because she is content with a simple thank you, which you may know, is not often given but even that doesn't seem to bother her. I appreciate you taking the time to read this as I wholehartedly belive my mother to be the top nominee for this opportunity to let nurses know how much the community does see how hard they are working to help make our lives better.

Persistence and perseverance are just two words that describe this nurse who has only been practicing for over a year. To think that she might have given up on nursing where she had a negative experience at another facility and came here to work. She is just like a sponge learning and acquiring all the skill she can to be the best nurse she can possibly be. She does this asking to work with medically complex along with pr issue patients and families. I have been amazed at the critical thinking ability of this nurse. She asks questions and seeks out answers that even experienced nurses were not able to respond to. She also participates in educational opportunities to expand her knowledge and skill in our specialty but also to move forward in nursing. Recently, she worked with an adolescent patient who was very demanding and verbally abusive to the staff and her family. This nurse volunteered to care for this patient because most of the staff had been "fired" by the patient. That did not stop the perseverance of this nurse as she went in with such a positive attitude. She was upfront with this patient about what was really bothering her, telling her she needed to think about how she was treating her family and our staff. The patient seemed to respond to this and would ask for this nurse to care for her. Because the patient was becoming more cooperative, this nurse collaborated with her on how to do treatments like her bowel and bladder program that would fit into her lifestyle at home giving her some control back and ownership of her care. What a difference this made as the patient began to participate more in her treatments and became less verbally confrontational with the staff and her family! The patient still faced many challenges before her, but this nurse truly made a difference.

This night shift lpn is truly a go-getter in all she does. She has been our detective when it comes to following up on med errors and has been the liasion with pharmacy and physicians. The physicians have made many comments how much they appreciate her "being on top" of medication errors that could have a potential negative outcome. She does not let anything stop her until she finds out the answer.

She has been part of the moving safely subgroup and looking at what equipment is appropriate for our patient population. Our diversion box had disappeared and using she detective skills was able to locate it and place in a designated spot so that it is readily available for patient use and will not disappear again.

This lpn has been very active in raising money for our holiday basket families organizing raffles as well as bake sales. She communicates this frequently through posters and in staff meeting. She also participates in our unit nursing council and interdisciplinary council. She is like a mom to us all as she performs special acts of kindness for many staff. She will often call a staff member if they have been off ill or visit them. She initiates and coordinates carry-ins for various occasions that often brings smiles to many staff members' faces. She definintely makes a difference for our patients and staff.

She is like a breath of fresh air where, in our field of oncology nursing, sometimes things look grim. However, she always has a smile on her face and is ready for the day ~ whatever that day may bring. She started as a nurse intern here, then moved to our sister unit to gain experience, now she back to our critical care/ bmt unit. She is so eager to learn and is such a team player. She is dependable is always there when you need a helping hand. She is compassionate and caring to all of her patients and their families. She provides excellent care in all aspects. She is truly in the right field. Her caring and positive attitude make her such a valuable asset to our bmtu family. We are lucky to have her.
This rn is always in her patients' rooms talking to them, easing their pain with her words and caring for them. The patients all speak very highly of her care of them. She knows so much about each patient on the unit and is always helping the rest of the staff.

This nurse is a young nurse, but exhibits strong characteristics of being a very caring and considerate person. I've watched her go from pct to rn and the progress she is making is commendable. She exhibits characteristics of interest, genuine compassion, inquisitive knowledge, quick learning, and respect from all she works with. You will never find her sitting around, she is always in the patient's rooms. Patients comment on liking her to be their nurse. She is honest and it carries over in her work and attitude. I am glad she is on our unit.

This nurse excels in all core areas of nursing, not just day to day routine care but emotional care as well. She takes the time to get to know each of her patients. Danielle is also is great to work with in critical situations.

As a diabetes expert for our unit this nurse is indispensable. What drives her practice is the desire to provide the highest quality care in educating our newly diagnosed gestational diabetic patients. She is exceptional in teaching patients how to manage their diabetes. She provides care for the whole patient, mind, body, & spirit. She deals with the patient's emotional & spiritual needs as well as their physical needs. She is accountable for patient advocacy. She is up on all the latest insurance changes and knows what glucose meters are covered by the various medical coverages. She collaborates with a team of professionals, (residents, dietitian, & social worker) and the patients & their families in managing the patient's disease. She spends extra hours getting the patients the glucose meters and diabetic supplies they need. She is also a resource and mentors other nurses on diabetes management and provides insight into each of our diabetic patient's life situations and special needs. She is an excellent nurse who goes out of her way to help her patients & co-workers in any way she can. She truly deserves Miami Valley Hospital's highest honors.

This nurse is an expert clinician! She holds certification in women's health care nursing and has worked here 25 years. Not only does she have the knowledge, but she has perfected her art as well. One area of her expertise is in the coordination of the management of pregnant diabetics. She teaches them about their condition, and follows them the entire pregnancy. She is diligent in motivation and encouraging these patients, as well as all of her patients, to stay as healthy as possible. She is a member of the hospital diabetes ed. Committee and is thorough in continuing ed. Herself, thus keeping up to date in her patients' care. She is also involved in presenting this up to date information to her peers. She is a mentor to new nurses and students, and new doctors and med. Students. She is very adaptable and cares for patients in high risk and regular ob. She is also heavily involved in night clinic where she is looked to as a leader. Truly, this nurse deserves the top award!

This nurse is a well-rounded individual who does many things well. She is one of two diabetic rn's on our unit and takes her role very seriously. She is a valuable resource with diabetes and is always approachable and available for questions. She also works in triage where her documentation in very concise and thorough. Continuity clinics and night clinics are also areas where she routinely works and can always be depended on. She is a valuable asset to our area.

This nurse exudes professionalism. She is a clinical expert in caring for cardiac patients. Her peers consider her a role model. She is a "nurse's nurse" and is always involved in the advancement of nursing practice. She is an active member of tri-force and acts as a change agent. Patients love her care and she prides herself in taking the time to get to know her patients. If they are awake at night she spends time getting to know them as she feels that this allows "us" to give better care by meeting the special needs of our patients. This nurse has a passion for primary prevention and is always looking for avenues to get information out to patients, families as well as her co-workers. It is really a pleasure to work with such a dedicated nurse.

Mary is very compassionate and conscientious with her patients. She's one of the hardest working co-workers i have ever worked with. She sincerely cares about her patients. She feels their emotions and takes time to talk with them helping them emotionally. She makes sure everything that can be done for them is done prior to leaving her shift. She advocates for her patients by consulting other departments and doctor's. She is really a nurse who goes to bat for their cause even at the risk of conflict with a doctor. If my family had her as a nurse, i know i wouldn't have to worry about anything. She is always willing to help out, offers assistance when needed. Mary is involved with education and unit council. She has been an advocate for improving nursing care at mvh. I am proud to have her as a co-worker!

This nurse is a wealth of knowledge for our unit. She is always willing to stop and answer questions no matter how busy she is. As night shift is the notorious "starting gate" for new grads, mary is a great resource for our unit. She takes time to teach new nurses who have questions i am not sure of, and what great teacher she is - explaining things in ways that anyone can understand. That same gift is given to her patients as she spends extra time educating those patients that truly show an interest in learning about their disease process. That extra time investment pays dividends when those patients are able to leave here and care for themselves as they should.

Collaborating with this nurse professionally is a pleasure. She is extremely competent and is always willing to take time to share her expansive knowledge base. She is one of the best patient advocates i have witnessed, and her teaching skills are extremely effective because of her approachability and patience as well as her years of experience.

Lucretia, have demonstrate compassion with her family,and on the job. She is well liked by her peers on and off the job,she has excellent communication skills which she have showned at church and on job. The time I seen her on the job her patients thought the world of her. She has obtained her BA degree in Nursing while working and raising a family with her husband. She is presently working on on obtaining her master degree in Nursing, while raising a family,working and going to school. She has a lot on her plate at one time but she manages this very well with a smile. She has three kids, a freshmen in college UC(son) and two daughters 12 and 4yrs. old.

Kettering Medical Center Employee Angie Wick. Angie is and LPN in the Emergency Department. The nomination read, "We had an elderly patient arrive by squad in the ED on 8/23. She was loud and combative (scared). Angie spoke and soothed this patient until we could transfer her to our cart. The patient then started making cat sounds, and Angie continued to try to soothe her. Angie then made her a pretend cat out of linens and placed it in her arms. The patient stopped her combative reaction and allowed Angie to draw her blood and treat her until the patient's family arrived. Angie, I am in awe of your outstanding nursing abilities and your caring and sensitive nature. I am very honored to be your co-worker."

As a nursing instructor I come in contact with many nurses at local facilities. April Wills, RN stands out because of her strong clinical skills, excellent communication, patient advocacy and willingness to mentor student nurses. April can often be found at a patient's bedside performing a comprehensive assessment and make it seem like she's having a casual conversation. This puts her patients at ease, ensures their trust in her and facilitates better, quicker healing for the pt. April demonstrates compassion for her patients & their families by taking extra time to listen actively. She then gains a better understanding of individual needs & how to best meet those needs through collaboration with the healthcare team. April advocates for her patients by providing excellent comprehensive care and expecting the same from all care providers. April shares the role of charge nurse for her unit and demonstrates strong leadership for the healthcare team. April is excellent at monitoring test results, gathering complete data and discussing them with physicians. She displays a professional yet relaxed and friendly manner when dealing with other members of the healthcare team. April excels at mentoring student nurses on her clniical unit. It is common to see her take students in to meet a patient with a condition that presents a good learning opportunity. When praised for her actions and abilities, April is humble and says only, "I love my job and my patients. I like to share that with others." When a patient unexpectedly returned from a procedure with a chest tube in place, April gathered a group of students at the bedside and explained the particulars, all the while including the patient in the conversation. Her ability to make everyone feel comfortable and respected is amazing. April then obtained a powerpoint presentation on chest tubes for distribution to the students.

Grandview Employee Lois Wilson. Lois is an LPN at Cassano Health Center. "Lois is the newest member of the nursing staff at Cassano. She frequently demonstrates her commitment to Cassano by suggesting new ideas for better workflow, improved patient compliance and better collaboration between staff. Lois has initiated several changes in the chart flow process to improve efficiency on her team and promote more accurate and timely billing. Lois has created a plan to recognize clinic children on their birthdays and notify parents of the need for annual medical follow up at the same time. Lois has demonstrated professionalism and maturity by communicating openly and honestly with other staff, assisting in other areas of the clinic and solving problems independently. Charts are now getting to the residents in a more timely fashion and charge slips are turned in on time with increasing regularity. Birthday postcards are in the development phase and results of this program will not be evident for at least a quarter. Lois is a team player and has worked independently to create positive working relationships in the clinic."

Tammy Witwer is an amazing nurse with a huge heart she goes above and beyond everyday. Nursing is not a job to her but rather a passion and a talent. She has been a nurse working with the tracheostomy and ventilator dependent infants and children at Childrens Medical Center for 20 years. She often is staying beyond her shift and visiting families and children and helping patients and families learn the essential education to care for their child at home. Education can be so extensive and frightening for these families with such fragile children. Tammy has such patience and understanding in assisting the families in learning and decreasing the anxiety of bringing home such a complex child. There is so much education and training for these families to go home with such a diffcult child and Tammy ensures this happens safely. She scurries around the hospital finding the children extra resources from clothes to tracheostomy supplies. She assists with taking pictures and making scapbook of the extensive hospitalization and rocking them when parents are not able to visit. In the unfortunate event of a death of a patient she is so gifted at assisting the families and the grieving process and giving the little extras she can such as hugs, comfort, and even a teddybear to squeeze. Thanks Tammy for all you do- You are an inspiration to all of us at CMC!!!!!

Tammy Witwer is an amazing nurse with a huge heart she goes above and beyond everyday. Nursing is not a job to her but rather a passion and a talent. She has been a nurse working with the tracheostomy and ventilator dependent infants and children at Childrens Medical Center for 20 years. She often is staying beyond her shift and visiting families and children and helping patients and families learn the essential education to care for their child at home. Education can be so extensive and frightening for these families with such fragile children. Tammy has such patience and understanding in assisting the families in learning and decreasing the anxiety of bringing home such a complex child. There is so much education and training for these families to go home with such a diffcult child and Tammy ensures this happens safely. She scurries around the hospital finding the children extra resources from clothes to tracheostomy supplies. She assists with taking pictures and making scapbook of the extensive hospitalization and rocking them when parents are not able to visit. In the unfortunate event of a death of a patient she is so gifted at assisting the families and the grieving process and giving the little extras she can such as hugs, comfort, and even a teddybear to squeeze. Thanks Tammy for all you do- You are an inspiration to all of us at CMC!!!!!