The Nursing Shared Governance (NSG) Council has reinstated their annual tradition of Nursing Awards. In the past these awards were given annually to recognize team members at Columbus Regional Health using Magnet principles. The NSG Council has reshaped these awards and made them distinctly our own by recognizing those who exemplify the values of The Way We Care model. With the reinstatement of the awards, they have been renamed The Way We Care Excellence in Nursing awards. Members of the Nursing Shared Governance Council worked closely with leadership at CRH to reinstate these awards in a way that ensures the nomination process is equitable and unbiased for all of the nominations. The 2024 nomination process produced an astounding 30 nominees!
Three separate awards were presented this year for Nurse of the Year, Patient Care Tech of the Year, and Friend of Nursing. Each recipient was presented with a certificate, pin, and a custom-made jacket. The home department of each recipient will also be presented with a plaque to display throughout the year. Each nominee was also presented with a pin to commemorate their nomination.
Congratulations to all of the nominees and to this year's award recipients:
Cari Wheeler, RN, CNOR-CARD, CRNFA, CST - Nurse of the Year 2024
Madelynn Burns, PCT - Patient Care Tech of the Year 2024
Andrea Valentine, Nurse Practitioner - Friend of Nursing 2024
Read excerpts from the three award recipients' nominations below:
Cari Wheeler RN, CNOR-CARD, CRNFA, CST - Nurse of the Year 2024
If you use the elements of The Way We Care as a foundation for a home, Cari would provide a warm, comfortable, strong home. Cari would fill it with her touch of sound knowledge, critical thinking, common sense, and moral judgement.”
“[Cari] thrives in training and educating experienced and new staff. Cari is easy-going, yet has a firm promise to excellence. Trust is built on a true commitment to learning with her strong knowledge base.”
“Cari has a strong pledge to care for her patients. She chooses to do the right thing for her patients, physically and emotionally. Advocating for the patient is evident, advocating for the surgeon and staff also aligns in Cari’s character. She is a good listener, is supportive, informed with current trends, and is a great representative for health care.”
“This is Cari’s house. She was born at CRH, started her work experience at CRH, and became a nurse leader at CRH. Cari Wheeler is my Nurse of the Year!”
Madelynn Burns, PCT - Patient Care Tech of the Year 2024
“Madelynn is an outstanding PCT. Whether she is sitting with a combative patient or working on the floor, she puts all of her effort into each and every shift. She provides high-quality care to our patients while also building a relationship with them. She is truly a team player, and I really appreciate working with her.”
Andrea Valentine, Nurse Practitioner - Friend of Nursing 2024
“Andrea is ALWAYS available to help in the Level 2 Nursery despite her high workload. She is always aware of what is going on in the nursery, though having no responsibility to the babies in that area. There is nothing she will not do for us and usually without being asked. She stays late to help with zero complaint. She cares for the nurses by checking in with us on hard days, assisting without judgement, and always is building us up. She never appears stressed and has patience and positivity for days; she is the definition of a team player.”