Virginia Nurses Foundation Recognizes Excellence in Nursing
Nassawadox, VA—The Virginia Nurses Foundation held a gala reception to honor the 2016 Leadership Excellence Award nominees on Saturday, September 24th in Richmond. The Foundation’s awards honor exceptional nurses from the Commonwealth. Three nurses from Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital (RSMH) and eleven nurses from other Riverside facilities were named as finalists in this year’s awards out of hundreds of nominees.
Nominated in the Nurse Manager / Director category was Annette Hempel, FNP-BC, MSN. Hempel has been a nurse for 15 years working primarily in Critical Care and is the Director of the Intensive Care Unit at RSMH. An alumnus of Tidewater Community College and Eastern Shore Community College, she recently earned her MSN, FNP and will soon be working with neurology and cardiac patients on the Eastern Shore. Hempel is passionate about leading her team to excellence in both patient care and in nursing professionalism. Hempel remarked “I’m honored to be recognized as a nursing leader and professional and to represent Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital. My work is challenging and yet so fulfilling and to be nominated for such an award is amazing.”
Finalists in the category of Direct Patient Care Leader – Patient Experience were Cheryl Warren, RN, BSN, CCRN and Ellen White, RN, BSN, CDE, CMSRN from RSMH.
Warren has honed her nursing care expertise in 31 years as a Registered Nurse. A native of the Eastern Shore and an alumnus of ODU and Thomas Nelson Community College, she is a critical care RN where she provides compassionate and exemplary care to her patients in the Intensive Care Unit at RSMH. Warren mentors staff and students, serves on several hospital-wide committees, and volunteers regularly to train staff. In recognition of her commitment to quality patient care and the profession of nursing, earlier this year she won the 2016 Riverside Shore Memorial Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence. She commented, “I love my work and my patients and hope to continue working and learning more each day. To be recognized for doing something you love is truly an honor.”
Also an Eastern Shore native and educated at Eastern Shore and Tidewater Community Colleges and the University of Phoenix, Ellen White is a well-rounded nurse who readily lends her knowledge and expertise not only in the health care setting, but also to the community. White is a Certified Diabetic Educator and currently splits her time between the Medical/Surgical Unit and Diabetic Education. She has demonstrated her passion for nursing by seeking educational/career advancement, becoming nationally certified in her areas of expertise and remaining at the bedside where her clinical skills can have a positive impact on the safety and quality of care to her patients and community. She remarked on being named a finalist, “Education is a central theme in my life, and I hope to keep learning and helping others. This nomination is truly meaningful, and I’m humbled to be included with such outstanding nurses.”
Patty MacDougall, DNP, RNC, Nurse Executive for Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital commented on RSMH’s finalists, “Annette, Cheryl and Ellen are assets to our team. Their dedication and professionalism set a high standard and all are truly worthy of the nominations. Great leadership is key to consistently demonstrating the Riverside Care Difference – the way in which we provide patient-centered care and respect in all aspects of service delivery. I’m so very proud of them and our entire nursing team.”
Leadership Excellence Awards are based on the premise that a nurse leader enhances the image of professional nursing, provides nursing care with respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of others, and promotes the professional development of self and others by providing outstanding care and responding to challenges with innovative approaches.
The mission of the Virginia Nurses Association is to promote advocacy and education for registered nurses to advance professional practice and influence the delivery of quality care.
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Congrats Cheryl Warren. Knew you would be one of the nurses. She is the best!