Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas recently held its 23rd annual Nursing Awards ceremony, recognizing its finest nurses and caregivers. Texas Health Dallas honored eight winners who provide “magnetic” care to patients, family and the community.
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The annual ceremony is sponsored by the Texas Health Resources Foundation from endowed gifts from grateful donors. |
“I am extremely proud to practice shoulder to shoulder with these inspiring and talented nursing professionals,” said Cole Edmonson, D.N.P., R.N., FACHE, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Dallas. “These nurses and caregivers are leaders in their field and provide extraordinary care to patients and their families. They embody the art and science of nursing in the practices of clinical, leadership, education, and research.”
The 2014 Excellence in Nursing Award recipients are:
- Beth Baltazar, B.S.N., R.N., CDE, a clinical educator for the Diabetes Education Center at Texas Health Dallas, was recognized for Excellence in Nursing Education - Structural Empowerment. Baltazar is known among her peers as a compassionate, knowledgeable and respected nurse. She is an active member on the hospital’s shared governance council and was instrumental in helping her unit maintain American Diabetes Association recognition.
- Annette Cox, M.S.N, R.N., the clinical educator for the Center for Advancing Professional Practice at Texas Health Dallas, was honored for Excellence in Nursing Research, Evidence Based Practice and Innovation. Cox led at the bedside and has an active role in developing and integrating practice changes, innovations and technology to improve. She has played a key role in evidence based practice projects like Quiet Environment is a Healing Environment and Journal Club Innovation Research Study.
- Nancy John, B.S.N., R.N., CRRN, a certified nurse in the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Texas Health Dallas, received the Excellence in Clinical Nursing - Exemplary Professional Practice award. John has significantly improved patient outcomes through advocating for patients’ rights, conducting research studies and implementing evidence-based practices in the unit. As a result, she helped her unit achieved zero pressure ulcers in 2013. For her work, John is also named the winner of this year’s Dr. Barbara Woodard Nurse of the Year award.
- Trang Nguyen, B.S.N., R.N., NE-BC, nurse manager for progressive cardiac care at Texas Health Dallas, was recognized for Excellence in Transformational Nursing Leadership. Nguyen is well-respected among her peers as a patient advocate and a mentor. Her collegial approach provided continuity of care for patients and has led to operational efficiencies.
- Tori Sanders, RN-C, a nurse supervisor and transport coordinator in the neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Health Dallas, was honored for Excellence in Clinical Nursing - Transformational Leadership. A strong advocate for patient and staff, Sanders has been described as having “helping hands and broad shoulders” for her nursing staff to lean on. She recently achieved national certification in her specialty and serves as a mentor to help her staff achieve theirs by 2015.
- Ekua Umunna, M.B.A., B.S.N.-BC, R.N., a nurse supervisor in psychiatry at Texas Health Dallas, was named winner of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership - Exemplary Professional Practice award. Umunna led at the bedside and collaborated with nursing staff and physicians on the hospital’s medical staff to improve patient care. As a result, she helped improve patient satisfaction scores for her unit. On a global level, she has provided basic health education for the underserved community in Ghana, Africa.
In addition, the Texas Health Dallas’ Nursing Excellence Award program honored Irvin Hernandez as this year’s Clinical Technician of the Year and named Jennifer Jordan Unit Secretary of the Year.
Hernandez serves as a patient care technician for the endoscopy lab at Texas Health Dallas. He is well known among nurses and caregivers for his positive attitude. He anticipates the needs of the patients and uses his skills to care for them, often going above and beyond his assigned responsibilities.
Jordan provides administrative support for the hospital’s inpatient oncology unit at Texas Health Dallas. She uses her excellent customer service skills to contribute to the transformation of the unit’s workplace culture. An active member of the unit based council, Jordan plans to achieve Yellow Belt status through the hospital’s Lean Six Sigma initiative.
“We are so proud of our partners in care, Irvin and Jennifer, without whom we could not provide the excellent care that we are known for,” Edmonson said.
The annual ceremony is sponsored by the Texas Health Resources Foundation from endowed gifts from grateful donors for excellent nursing care.
For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.