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From left: Nurses Susan Eastman, Carol Smith and Kerry Mrsny were recognized with nursing awards at The Nebraska Medical Center on Monday. The awards were given in conjunction with National Nurses Week, which runs May 6-12. |
The award winners were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee that included Rita VanFleet, the medical center’s chief nursing officer, a physician, an ancillary staff member, a pastoral care staff member and the 2006 award winner in that category.
The awards were given in conjunction with National Nurses Week, which runs May 6-12.
A nurse for almost 13 years, Kerry Mrsny, received the esteemed “Carol M. Wilson Award for Quality in Nursing” 2007 recognition. This award honors a registered nurse who represents the highest ideals of the profession of nursing.
“It is a great feeling to be recognized by those you work with, even more so when I know that I would not be where I am today without those people,” Mrsny said. “I used to be very shy and quiet. Without the encouragement and support of others, I would still be that nurse who no one really knows.”
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“Many of our patients have a new diagnosis of cardiac disease so we focus quite a bit on teaching, especially on lifestyle changes,” she said.
Her unit also cares for all of the heart transplant patients.
“Patients are in the hospital a number of times before and after their transplant so we get to know these patients very well,” Mrnsy said. “What I like the most about my job is the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of patients, and the wonderful people I work with.”
The winner of the “Spirit of Nursing” 2007 award, Susan Eastman, says what she likes the most about being a nurse is her ability to advocate for patients.
“I feel very lucky that I have a job that allows me to play such an important role in a person’s life,” she said.
From a young age, Eastman was eager to become a nurse, but personal circumstances and finances forced her to keep her dream on the backburner for awhile.
“I had to wait until I was older to go to college because I had children at home and money was tight,” she said. “I was 33 years old when I graduated from nursing school.”
Eastman said she loves being a nurse and even joked, “don’t tell my boss, but I’d do it for free.”
As a wound nurse in The Nebraska Medical Center’s Wound and Ostomy Center, Eastman provides consultation for patients with chronic wounds.
“Hope is a concept that is not always easy to come by for patients with hard-to-heal wounds,” she said. “As a wound care consultant, I am able to assist patients with developing a plan of care that fits their needs and that treats the whole person. I spend a lot of time listening to my patients — learning about their history, uncovering those factors that may have contributed to their delay in healing and even looking into family dynamics. My goal is to help ease frustrations and calm fears. I am blessed with the ability to participate in such an important aspect of care. It is a very fulfilling job.”
A nurse for 40 years, Carol Smith, director of the Adult Crisis Unit at The Nebraska Medical Center is the recipient of the “Nursing Leadership Award.”
Smith counts among her career accomplishments the opening of the medical center’s geriatric rehab center, a unit for elderly patients who no longer require hospitalization but need more medical care and rehabilitation before returning home. Smith was also instrumental in opening of the adult crisis unit, a care unit for adults with acute mental health needs.
“It was started four years ago when the Richard Young Center closed and patients coming into our emergency department didn’t have many options for inpatient mental health care,” Smith said.
As director of the unit, Smith said she is honored to work with such a talented and dynamic staff.
“I am amazed every day by their patience and commitment to helping those patients that have such unique needs,” she said.
Smith’s passion in working with elderly patients also prompted her to start a “senior assist” program.
“The goal of the program is to help keep aging adults in their own homes as long as possible,” Smith said.
Smith said she was blown away when she found out she would be receiving the leadership award for nursing.
“A leader is only as successful as the staff people you work with,” she said. “I have been blessed to work with wonderful people that have given me many opportunities. To be recognized by these individuals is the ultimate compliment. I am very grateful to them.”
Forty-four extraordinary nurses, also selected by their peers, were recognized at the ceremony as well.