The Nebraska Health System presented awards recently to two nurses at
the Nebraska Health System — the Carol M. Wilson Award for Quality in
Nursing and the Spirit of Nursing Award.
Julie Lazure, manager of Nebraska Health System units 5 West and 7 North,
received the Wilson award, which was established in 1993 in honor of a
longtime nursing leader at University Hospital. It recognizes a professional
nurse who represents the highest ideals in nursing.
Barb Simanek, a pediatric pulmonary nurse, received the Spirit of Nursing
Award. The award, established in 1999, is awarded to honor a staff nurse
who exemplifies excellence in patient care.
Lazures commitment to patients and staff is called extraordinary
by her nominators.
Julie holds high standards for the care of patients she leads by
example and keeps abreast of what is being done well and where improvement
is needed, wrote her nominators. Julie gives excellent feedback on how
to improve care and often works side by side with staff in providing care
including weekends, nights and holidays.
Julies decisions are always made on what is best for patients, families
and staff. She is open and honest with the staff they feel they can count
on her to be there when needed, while giving them room to grow and be autonomous.
One of Simaneks nominators wrote: Barb touches the lives of so many
patients with her caring attitude and expertise. Parents struggling with
the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis facing the overwhelming responsibility
of performing daily treatments for their childs health have a friend in
Barb. She has much support and knowledge to share and is able to
select just the right recipe for patient education.
Simaneks enthusiasm for teaching colleagues and students also was cited.
She knows cystic fibrosis but still often asks questions to learn more
about it, a nominator wrote. She is committed to research and participates
in research investigations. She is a role model of a positive attitude.
Barb has the Spirit of Nursing. She lives it every day.