The ninth annual Rose Black Nursing Excellence Awards at Central Vermont Medical Center were presented this year to three women who provide their patients with superior nursing care. Dr. Percy Black, Rose Black’s son, welcomed everyone and gave thanks to today’s award recipients and all of the nurses at CVMC, on behalf of his mother and the Black family. He emphasized that nurses are nominated for this award by their peers.
The nurses honored this year are Lynda Connaughton, RN, a resident of East Barre who works at CVMC’s Hospital, Muriel Clark, RN, a Barre resident who works at Waterbury Medical Associates, a CVMC Group Practice, and Diana Putnam, RN, a Middlesex resident who works in CVMC’s Woodridge Nursing Home.
“Her sense of humor and her energy level should be bottled for all nurses, stated Laurey Tyo, RN, when speaking about Lynda Connaughton. “Her patients love her and her peers love working with her. She is an excellent nurse who treats all patients equally from the VIP to the homeless. She accepts difficult assignments, willingly takes on more and takes pride in what she does. Recognition by your peers is the ultimate gift a nurse can receive. It does not set you above or beyond your peers but wraps you in a blanket of warmth and a sea of support.”
Muriel Clark, RN, has been an invaluable asset to the staff and patients at Waterbury Medical Associates for the past nineteen years. “Office nursing, especially family practice in small town Vermont allows staff the opportunity to know patients in a personal way, where they live and work, if they have children, what their special needs and challenges are,” stated Jodi Grout, RN, Nurse Manager. “I know that many of our patients feel as if Muriel is a part of their family. Muriel is a career nurse who truly heard and followed the call, as paraphrased from the Nightingale oath, to maintain and elevate the standards of the profession.”
A third nurse recognized by her peers was Diana Putnam, RN, “who is attentive, thoughtful and caring of every resident.” Diana told those gathered to honor the Rose Black winners, “When I was little I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I was inspired by my grade school nurse at Rumney, Mrs. McCardle and later by Mrs. Welch who taught at Barre Vocational. Nursing has been very rewarding for me, sharing many moments – holding a hand, sharing a cry, a laugh, a shoulder to lean on, care through a sickness or surgery, start of a new life, death of a loved one -- being a teacher, a counselor, an advocate, a mentor, a referee, a plumber, a magician, a caregiver, a NURSE.”
Rose Black and her family, which includes son, Dr. Percy Black, his daughter Dr. Deborah Black, Rose’s daughter, Edith Black Zfass and their respective families had a genuine desire to honor nursing. This was based on Rose’s experience as a patient at Central Vermont Hospital beginning in early 2000 and Woodridge Nursing Home during 2001 and 2002.
Rose Black died in 2002, at the age of 97, after a long and vital life. She was a great inspiration to many with her example of service, love and family life. She always had a special place in her heart for others who were models of caring, particularly nurses.