UH St. John Medical Center Honors Nurses with Awards Ceremony

University Hospitals St. John Medical Center hosted its annual Dept. of Nursing Awards Ceremony on May 11, honoring nurses in several categories.

“Nurses Week gives Nurses the opportunity to celebrate the profession of Nursing. This week helps us reflect on why we chose this profession and be proud we did,” said Cathy Knorzer, Chief Nursing Officer.

She was joined by UH SJMC President Robert G. David, Robert Stern, MD, President Medical Staff, Atul Hulyalkar, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Dilip Narichania, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer, in welcoming guests and family members. Sr. Kendra Bottoms, Pastoral Care, offered the invocation.

Outstanding Clinical Support Award: Elizabeth Bowles (Biometric/HHVI) – This award is presented to the employee who provides outstanding service to the Nursing Dept., serves as a role model to others by exemplifying the mission of providing care which is compassionate and professional while working as a part of the Nursing Team.

Nursing Preceptor Award: Jessica Striebing (IMCU) – This award is presented to a nurse who demonstrates excellence in professional nursing practice, faithfulness to the SJMC Core Values, and collaborates with all members of the healthcare team and exemplifies a culture where the patient and family relationship is at the center of care.

Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award for Clinical Excellence: Stasia Yanasak (IMCU) – This award honors a nurse who possesses excellent nursing skills and knowledge, had developed leadership skills, excellent interpersonal relationships, seeks initiatives and holds professional development in high regard.

Nurse Leader Award: Brandy DiMatteo (Interventional Radiology) – This award honors a nurse who impacts staff and/or patient care by role modeling extraordinary behavior, creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported. The Nurse Leader motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for patients and promotes and enhances the image of nursing within the organization.

Rookie of the Year Award: Shannon Payne (Maternity) – Honors a registered nurse who, practicing less than two years, exhibits awareness of the practice of nursing and professionalism while delivering nursing, participates in unit-based or hospital-based projects, demonstrates excellence in clinical practice, continued education and learning, demonstrates great enthusiasm for the nursing profession and participates in professional/community organizations.

Of special note were readings by guest speaker Jeanne Bryner, whose poems captured the the spirit of the event. Nora Mazur displayed quilts created to inspire and honor the profession of Nursing.

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