Inspirational Poems For The New Year

A celebration of nursing

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide celebrated National Nurses Week May 6-12 by recognizing the valuable contributions of nurses. Here is a look at how some facilities in the Greater Philadelphia Tri-State region marked the week.

Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia: The nursing staff of the B5-telemetry unit published the Pioneer, a 50-page magazine packed with articles, stories, greetings, biographical data, narratives and poems. This is the fifth edition of the magazine that has been a yearly tradition for the nursing staff under the leadership of Jane Cassidy, RN, CRRN, B5 nurse manager, in celebrating National Nurses Week.

This year’s editorial staff members were David A. Dacanay Jr., RN, BSN (editor-in-chief); Miriam Gayle, RN, BSN (managing editor); Angela Miller, RN, BSN (associate editor); Oliver Torres, RN, BSN (graphic editor); Laurie Varela, RN; and Nana Yeboah, RN. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia: More than 300 nurses took part May 11 in an early morning celebration with radio personality Donna Storm and Mix 106.1 FM. The event included music, breakfast treats, massages, exercise tips and prizes.

Guest speakers Daniel A. Monti, a physican who serves as director, Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine, and Sharon Johnson, a writer for The New York Times, discussed nurses’ health and wellness, along with healthcare reform May 12 as part of the 2011 Nurse Excellence Awards Luncheon and Ceremony.

Carole Muto, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CPAN, won the 2011 Janet C. Hindson Award for exceptional devotion and care to relieving the suffering of others. OR Specialty Team Supervisor Barbara Citerone, RN, was awarded the 2011 Career Achievement Award at the annual Nurse Excellence Awards Luncheon and Ceremony.

Among the winners were RNs Marie St. Ledger (Community Service Award); Thomas Sullivan, Kelly Lord, Monina Tajdea and Mary Ann Heller (Clinical Nurse Excellence Awards); Kathryn White (Rising Star Award); Karlene DiCello (Excellence in Nurse Preceptorship and Mentorship Award); and Nicole Schwartz (Oncology Nurse of the Year).

“In addition to our award celebrations, Nurses Week programs have focused on wellness and health topics, managing time and other ways to help nurses in their everyday life,” said Mary Ann McGinley, RN, PhD, CNO and senior vice president of patient care services. Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover, Del.