News

May 11, 2009

Nurse of the Year Award Recipients Announced

In celebration of National Nurses week, May 6 - 12, 14 nurses at Kootenai Health were honored at a celebration last week. Nurses were nominated and chosen by their peers for best exemplifying one of the 14 qualities that elevate Kootenai Health to Magnet Status.

The recipients are:

Chelsea Leads, Intensive Care Unit - Distinguished Career Award

Gerry Demaris, Emergency Department - Pioneering Spirit Award

Annette Asper, Ortho/Neuro - Clinical Practice - Traditional Award

Della Jenkins, Performance Improvement - Clinical Practice, Non-Traditional Award

Tiffany Barnhart, Kootenai Health's Youth Behavioral Services - Caring Practice Award

Sara Dreschel, Obstetrics - Preceptor Award

Ken Mills, Nursing Resource Team - Mentoring Award

Tina Riekin, Nursing Resource Team - Community Service Award

Marian Wilson, Clinical Research - Advanced Practice/Consultation Award

Marty Fallon, Infection Prevention - Education Award

Toni James, Palliative Care - Innovation and Research Award

Linda Cathey, Kootenai Cancer Center - Leadership Award

Holli Hansen, Nursing Resource Team - Student Nurse Award

Megan Merry, Nursing Resource Team - Multidisciplinary Team Award

In 2006, Kootenai Health was awarded Magnet Status, the "gold standard" for nursing excellence, by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Magnet program started in 1982 when a nursing task force survey identified why some healthcare facilities excell at attracting and retaining quality nurses. The research discovered 14 primary qualities - dubbed "forces of magnetism" - that draw quality nurses.

To date, fewer than 300 U.S. organizations have successfully obtained Magnet Recognition status. Kootenai is the only magnet hospital in the Inland Northwest. Magnet hospitals typically deliver better patient outcomes, shorter lengths of stay and increased patient satisfaction.

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