Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. They have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.
During National Nurses Week 2013 North Country Hospital celebrated their nurses and their contributions to the health care system, both in the role they play as expert clinicians in diverse care settings and as leaders who can dramatically influence the quality of care and the challenges of the future.
Culminating the week of celebration is the Annual Nurses Week Dinner on Wednesday, May 8, the centerpiece of which is the announcement of the winner of the annual Nursing Excellence Award. Nurses are nominated for the award by their colleagues. The winner and four runners up are selected by a committee of previous winners. The runners up were Julie Giroux, RN at Family Practice of Newport; Cheryl Demers, LPN, maternal/child, and Carol Casey, RN, clinical information systems coordinator.
Joan Wheeler, RN, cardiac rehab, is the winner of the 9th Annual NCH Nursing Excellence Award.
Joan has worked at North Country for 25 years. When working in ICU, she realized that the care for patients who'd had a cardiac event had only begun when they were discharged from acute care. She developed North Country's Cardiac Rehab Program and went on to achieve national accreditation for the program. Joan also is a certified diabetes educator and helped develop the diabetes education program at North Country.
Joan's calm and confident approach to patient care lets her patients know that she is there for them. She is an excellent teacher matching the education she provides to the patient or student need.
“Congratulations to all the nurses who were nominated for the Award of Excellence. Choosing one from this group of amazing individuals was certainly a challenge. Each one excels and contributes in her unique and special way,” said Sheryl Washburn, VP of Patient Care.
In celebration of nurses’ week, North Country’s nurses are also contributing to the future by raising funds for the Legends Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to healthcare students. The total amount raised for the fund this year was $2272 – in a raffle for a Whirligig Lawn Ornament hand made by Bruce Muir and a 50/50 raffle. The medical staff donated $1000 to the fund and Dr.William Brunelli donated his 50/50 winnings.