UK HealthCare Nurses, Employees Honored for Care, Courage and Competency
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 12, 2015) – UK HealthCare nurses show courage, compassion and clinical competency as they interact with patients, families and fellow staff members every day. Several UK HealthCare employees were recently singled out for their extraordinary work as recipients of the 2015 Nursing Week Awards.
“These leaders have demonstrated not only extraordinary clinical competency and great thinking, but the courage to step up and out to change things for the better, said Colleen Swartz, chief nurse executive for UK HealthCare. “These changes improve the care environment and allow us to take better care of our patients and families.”
The AI/UK HealthCare Quilt of Teamwork Award for Nursing Support was given to respiratory therapist Lisa Wright, who is a member of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital nursing management team. Wright has played an instrumental role in elevating KCH’s level of care in neonatal ventilation and improved nursing efficiency by providing expertise in respiratory illness.
The Diana Weaver Leadership/Management Award honors a dynamic and confident nurse in the position of a manager or administrative leader. Kimberly Blanton, director of enterprise ipac and quality safety at UK HealthCare, received this award for her ability to disseminate important information to the nursing teams, to manage programs that enhance nursing, to promote a spirit of teamwork and charisma in nursing, and to lead during the Ebola crisis with confidence and composure.
The Karen E. Hall Nursing Education Award recognizes a nurse who has demonstrated quality education to his or her colleagues. Donna Woolums, a clinical nurse at the UK Good Samaritan Hospital, received this award for her efforts to fill an instructional need in her unit, and for fostering an environment of learning in her workplace.
The Karen Sexton Firestarter Award, which honors a nurse who exemplifies the values of teambuilding, education and a commitment to excellence, was presented to Linda Clements. Clements is involved with training and mentoring nursing students and new nurses. She has served as a catalyst for improvement by thinking critically about patient issues and training other health care providers to perform life-saving skills.
A nurse part of the Children’s Oncology Group, Diana Holtzhauer is the 2015 recipient of the M.J. Dickson Quality Nursing Care Award. The award recipient is a clinical nurse who reflects a strong commitment to high standards and quality care. Holtzhauer, who serves as a resource in ambulatory and impatients, meets high standards of care by modeling policies, championing positive change and utilizing evidence-based practices.
The Nightingale Preceptor Lamp Award recognizes a preceptor who has provided exceptional guidance to new nurses. This year’s award was presented to Diana Gregory, a nurse at the UK Good Samaritan Hospital who has served as an enthusiastic mentor, advocate and teacher to many students, new members of the profession and co-workers.
Janice Bugg was named the recipient of the Nursing Professional Advancement Award, which honors an individual who has maintained the “Gold” status of the profession and contributes to the standards of nursing in their unit, hospital and community. Bryan Boling was presented with the Dorothy Brockopp Annual Research Award for a project examining the use of social media as a support system for patients using LVADs. Psychiatric nurse Peggy Scheibel was awarded the Eastern State Hospital Foundation Award for providing exceptional, compassionate care for patients in the mental health community.
MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Adams, elizabethadams@uky.edu