Four nurses and a scheduler who supports nursing efforts won the top five awards at the WVU Hospitals 2020 Nurse of the Year virtual ceremony held Oct. 30.
Traditionally, the event featured a single Nurse of the Year award, but WVU Medicine’s Nursing Recruitment and Retention council expanded the awards this year “so that more nurses and inter-professional colleagues could be recognized,” Lya M. Cartwright-Stroupe DNP, APRN, CPNP, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, manager of nursing research and professional development, Magnet® program director, and transition to practice program director, said.
The ceremony usually occurs in the spring during National Nurses Week, but was rescheduled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s winners, including a description of the qualifications for the award, and other nominees, are:
Nurse of the Year (any direct care nurse who exemplifies excellence in nursing and patient care): Michele Means, BSN, RN, CCRN, who has more than 32 years of experience working in the neonatal intensive care unit at WVU Medicine Children’s. Other nominees: Chavonne Newman, BSN, CCTC, Transplant Alliance manage; Candy Mahle, BSN, RN, CNOR, a pediatric cardiothoracic specialty/operating room circulator.
Rookie Nurse of the Year (a graduate who has less than one year of experience at the time of nomination and is part of the Nurse Residency/Transition to Practice Program): Melissa Coffey, ADN, RN, a charge nurse on 10 West. Other nominees: Elena Czyryca, BSN, RN, a nurse on 9 Southeast/Heart and Vascular Institute; Amber Davis, a nurse in the Maternal Infant Care Center.
Nurse Educator of the Year (any nurse who has the job title clinical preceptor, college coordinator or any nurse educator role): Brandon Hostler, BSN, RN, CNRN, a clinical preceptor on 10 East. Other nominees: Niki Thorn, MSN, RN, a coordinator/preceptor serving ambulatory services, Student Health, and Urgent Care; Erin Barrett, BSN, RN, a nurse coordinator and diabetes education specialist; Robert Nagel, BSN, RN, CNOR, a service line coordinator for cardiovascular services on 2 Southeast/Heart and Vascular Insitute; Kristen Smitsky, BSN, RN, a clinical preceptor with the WVU Medicine Children’s Resource Pool; Cheryl Travis, MSN-Ed, RN, NPD-BC, with Clinical Education and Development.
Most Helpful Interprofessional Colleague (a non-nurse employee who exemplifies excellence in patient care by collaborating with the nursing staff to meet patient needs and provide patient centered-care): Deborah Welcome, a scheduler in surgical services. Other nominee: Jennifer Ball, quality/coordinator, National Quality Programs.
Legendary Nurse of the Year (any nurse currently working in direct patient care with more than 20 years of consecutive experience): Jacqueline Johnson, RN, BSN-BC, 8 Northeast. Other nominees: Maureen Schmitt, RNC-OB, a perinatal nurse coordinator with the obstetrics/gynecology service line; Jennifer Straface, BSN, RN, a charge nurse/mentor with the WVU Medicine Children’s Infusion Center; Joice Delaney, BSN, RN-BC, 7 East; Lynn Coup, RN, lead nurse on 2 Southeast/Heart and Vascular Institute.
The Recruitment and Retention Council scored blinded nominations. Results were then tallied for each category and winners announced.
“We are fortunate in our organization to have staff with such breadth and depth of knowledge and experience,” Cartwright-Stroupe said.
