WINDSOR — Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center honored five employees with Nurses Week Awards, which recognize nursing professionals who go above and beyond for their patients and colleagues. The event was held as part of National Nurses Week, which was celebrated from May 6-12.
Felicia Murray, a registered nurse and president of the Interdisciplinary Council Governance was recognized for her commitment as the council’s first president. Murray presented awards to five of her colleagues, including Linda Richardson, licensed nursing assistant of the year; Angel Oliver, licensed practical nurse of the year; and Jessica Bean, medical assistant of the year. The Exemplary Professional Practice Award was presented to Elizabeth Sheehan, registered nurse; and the Mt. Ascutney Nursing Excellence Award was given to Vickie Day, a registered nurse.
The winners were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by their peers. Winners must have recorded achievements in one or more of the nursing profession’s major domains: practice, education and research. They must demonstrate leadership in at least two areas: advancing the practice of nursing; improving the quality of care, promoting and maintaining professional nursing standards, contributing to the enhancement of professional nursing, and demonstrating excellence in teaching and role development.
“The theme of this year’s National Nurses Week is ‘4 million reasons to celebrate,’ and each of our honorees gives us many reasons to celebrate each day,” said Amy Visser-Lynch, interim chief nursing officer of Mt. Ascutney, in a news release. “These nurses serve their patients with grace, ingenuity and incredible skill. They’re role models to their colleagues, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of compassionate professionals to continue this tradition.”
Visser-Lynch went on to recognize the entire nursing staff for their commitment to patient health and safety.
LEBANON — Tabitha Pena, a registered nurse at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, was recently awarded the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
The Daisy Award is part of an international program that rewards and celebrates the skillful compassionate care nurses provide every day. A patient nominated Pena to thank her for being her nurse for multiple shoulder surgeries and helping to ease her recovery.
Pena began her career in nursing in 2012. She started as a licensed nursing assistant, became a licensed practical nurse in 2014 and earned her registered nurse license in 2017. Pena accepted her position at DHMC that year, after completing her clinical rotations.
“There seems to be good accountability here and a drive to always do better,” she said in a news release.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The White River Junction VA Medical Center will launch its new community care program on Thursday, implementing portions of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, known as the Mission Act.
The White River Junction VA will host a veteran town hall meeting at the medical center at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, to share information on the program.
“We are excited about the new options available to our veterans under the Mission Act,” Dr. Brett Rusch, executive director of the White River Junction VA medical center, said in a news release. “We understand any transformation of this size will come with challenges. We look forward to working with veterans and community providers to improve the process each step along the way.”
The Mission Act both ends the Veterans Choice Program and establishes a new Veterans Community Care Program.
Under the new program, veterans can now work with their VA health care provider or other VA staff to see if they are eligible to receive community care. Eligibility for community care does not require a veteran to receive that care in the community; veterans can still choose the VA for their care.
HANOVER — The Foundation for Healthy Communities has announced Jessica Morris, a registered nurse at Hanover Terrace Health & Rehabilitation Center, is the 2019 recipient of the Clint M. Jones Nursing Award, marking only the second time in the program’s 13-year history that a nurse in long-term care has received the award.
Morris, a resident of Orford and a graduate of Manchester Community College, received the annual award in front of her peers and family during a special Nurses Week celebration held on May 8 at Hanover Terrace, according to a news release.
The Clint Jones Nursing Award was created in 2006 by the Foundation for Healthy Communities to honor the memory of the former director of the Foundation’s N.H. Nursing Workforce Partnership. The award recognizes a registered nurse practicing in New Hampshire for at least one year but not more than six years, who exemplifies quality, compassionate nursing care and demonstrates a commitment to a career in nursing.
In nominating Morris for the award, Martha Ilsley, administrator at Hanover Terrace, highlighted Morris’ compassion as a nurse and her commitment to her patients and their families.
“Jessica exemplifies the practice of compassionate, quality nursing care every day,” Ilsley said in a news release. “She serves as a mentor and inspiration to all of her colleagues, and we couldn’t be prouder of her.”
Clint Jones’ wife, Leslie, and son Matthew presented the award.
“Given how important supporting the nursing profession was to my father, it’s an honor for us to recognize nurses each year for their commitment to delivering compassionate care with this annual award,” Matt Jones said. “We congratulate Jessica on receiving this award, but more importantly we thank her for her dedication and commitment to her patients at Hanover Terrace.”
— Compiled Kelly Burch