Medical Center Celebrates National Nurse' Week

National Nurse's Week Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) recently recognized National Nurses’ Week. The annual celebration began with an inspirational service, recognizing HUMC’s theme, “Making a Difference Every Day.” The week, which included a series of workshops; panel discussions; keynote presentations by planning consultants David Kostinas, David G. Kostinas Associates, “New Jersey’s Commission on Rationalizing Healthcare” and Joe Lemaire, Accenture Healthcare Associates,
“New Jersey Hospital Association’s Status Report;” a continuing education fair; student shadow program and a Safe Patient Handling Equipment Fair; culminated in the Nursing Excellence Awards Celebration, where 2,219 Magnet nurses were honored.

In 1995, the medical center became the first hospital in the country – after the pilot program – to receive the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence. This honor is the highest recognition that can be bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The medical center received re-designation as a Magnet Hospital in 1999 and again in 2003, and in 2008 remains a Magnet organization.

“Every day, I am impressed with the professionalism that our nurses demonstrate to achieve the highest standard of Nursing Excellence,” said Dianne A.M. Aroh, RN, executive vice president of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer. “All week we have been celebrating the many achievements of our outstanding and talented nurses due to the outcomes of skilled dedication, and I am very proud of each and every one of them.”

“When I first came to HUMC in the early 1980s, I was told that nursing is the backbone of the institution – it was true then and it’s even more true today,” shared Robert C. Garrett of Morris Township, executive vice president and chief operating officer at HUMC. “It is most fitting on this fine occasion to acknowledge the job each one of you do everyday, and we celebrate you with gratitude.”
The medical center’s Department of Patient Care presented 2008 Nursing Excellence Awards to: Debbie Peters, RN, of Midland Park, staff nurse of the Reuten Clinic, Pediatric Outpatient; Tara Paltridge, RN, of Wallkill, NY, Pediatric Inpatient; Doreen Washington, RN, of Teaneck, nurse manager, Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Carol Weber, RN, of Washington Township, nurse manager of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), were both chosen as nurse leaders, Adult Inpatient; Laura McBride, RN, of Ringwood, a research nurse coordinator for the John Theurer Cancer Center, Adult Outpatient; and Kristin McNerney, RN, of Paramus, staff nurse, 4 South, for Adult Outpatient. The Friends of Nursing Award was presented to Keri Bicking,

Pharm.D., of North Haledon, clinical pharmacist of Pharmacy. The Outpatient Team
Spirit Award was given to the Center for Ambulatory Surgery (CAS) Pediatric Unit and the inpatient award went to the PICU staff members.

One of the week’s emotional highlights was the “Magnet Moments” event held in the Palm Court. Seven HUMC nurses shared touching stories about how being a nurse has made a difference for them.

“I am proud to say that I am a nurse and that I work amongst the best of the best at HUMC,” said Marlene Amoroso, RN, of Pompton Lakes, a staff nurse in Radiology. The Department of Patient Care additionally honored members of the “Walk to Remember” committee, for making a difference with families who have experienced the death of an infant or young child.

Portia Chinnery, RN, of Piscataway, nurse manager, Emergency Trauma Department and Recruitment, Retention, and Mentoring Council chairperson, and Cathy Herrmann, RN, Recruitment, Retention, and Mentoring Council chairperson stated jointly, “We hope the nurses feel educated and are renewed in spirit by the week’s events, and we remind them to please take care of themselves, as well as caring for their patients.”

Several gifts, compliments of BEYOND Medical Spa and The Ellen H. Lazar Shoppe On Fifth, were raffled off during Nurses Week, and all nurses received a Nurses Week gift from their nurse manager. HealthGrades® named HUMC one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for the second consecutive year. This designation recognizes hospitals that have demonstrated superior
clinical quality over a seven-year time period, based upon an analysis of more than 75 million Medicare patient records from 1999-2005. These hospitals have achieved better survival rates and lower complication rates across dozens of medical procedures and diagnoses, from cardiac care to orthopedic surgery, consistently ranking among the top five percent in the nation for overall clinical outcomes. HUMC is the only healthcare facility in New Jersey, New York, and New England to be named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals. Only one percent of the nation’s hospitals can make this claim.

For more information about the medical center, please visit www.humc.com.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Pictured: An emotional Doreen Washington, RN, nurse manager, Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of Teaneck, stands for applause and recognition as she prepares to walk to the stage to accept a Nursing Excellence Award at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Pictured from left: Carol Weber, RN, of Washington Township, nurse manager of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), receives a warm embrace from Dianne A.M. Aroh, RN, executive vice president of Patient Care and chief nursing officer at Hackensack University Medical Center, during the National Nurses Week 2007 Awards Ceremony, as Ken Leff, RN, a staff nurse from 2 Main; and Robert C. Garrett of Morris Township, executive vice president and chief operating officer at HUMC applaud.