|
Sixth
Annual Cameos
of Caring Award Winners, 2004
 Darlene Dietrich, RN
VAPHS -
University Drive Division
Patient Care Services
Darlene Dietrich is an RN on 4-West, the surgical inpatient unit at the University Drive Division.
Throughout her career at the VAPHS, she has demonstrated extreme devotion to the nursing profession through her interactions and dedication to patients, families, and peers.
Darlene's happiness and team building are often responsible for negative attitudes turning into productivity.
Ms. Dietrich treats her patients with respect and dignity, becoming personally involved with each and every one of them as if they were her own family.
 Donald Fox, RN
VAPHS -
Heinz Division
Patient Care Services
Donald Fox is an RN on 3-North, a hospice and palliative care unit at the Heinz Division.
Mr. Fox's peers refer to him as "the type of nurse that all of us would want caring for our loved ones."
Don has a compassionate and caring attitude that shines in all the care he provides.
He inspires others to achieve high levels of patient care standards. He easily builds trust with families and shares their innermost thoughts and feelings.
 Janice
Rihely, RN
VAPHS -
Highland Drive Division
Patient Care Services
Janice Rihely has been a psychiatric nurse at the Highland Drive Division of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System for 25 years.
Ms. Rihely acts as a mentor to co-workers, utilizing her many years of experience to be a compassionate and invested caregiver to a specialized patient population.
She can always be relied upon to advocate for veterans, their families, and the staff.
Janice also has a strong professional presence throughout the VAPHS, committing herself to serving on several councils and committees.
 Cameos
of Caring Endowment Scholarship Winner
Nicole Hicks, RN
VAPHS -
University Drive Division
Surgical Service
The Cameos of Caring Endowed Nursing Scholarship provides tuition assistance for one year to RNs enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ms. Hicks is enrolled in the master's level Adult Nurse Practitioner
program. A committee comprised of University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing faculty and Cameos of Caring sponsor representatives selected her based on an
essay as well as excellent academic standing.
 Advanced Practice Nurse Nominee:
Jennifer Sanders, RN, CRNP
VAPHS - Highland Drive Division
Behavioral Health
Jennifer Sanders is currently a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner in the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders, (CTAD), at the Highland Drive Division.
She sees veterans regularly to discuss medical and psychiatric issues.
She educates them about their addictions and medical illnesses. Not only does Ms. Sanders function as an astute nurse practitioner, she also "pitches in" and assists the registered nurses with their daily functions when the schedule becomes too hectic.
Her enthusiasm and professionalism are exceptional and contagious to other staff.
 Donate Life Nominee:
Sandra Petruzzi, RN
VAPHS -
University Drive Division
Critical Care
Sandra Petruzzi serves as an RN on a medical/surgical unit at the University Drive Division.
Ms. Petruzzi experienced the extraordinary gift of life through her father, a victim of severe cardiomyopathy and heart donor recipient.
His strength and courage have touched his daughter. Ms. Petruzzi is a strong advocate of organ donation.
Ms. Petruzzi is currently developing a research survey for nurses to formally assess their level of understanding about organ donation and transplantation.
Ms. Petruzzi has influenced many of her peers to consider organ donation.
Fifth
Annual Cameos
of Caring Award Winners, 2003
 Mary
Lou Bossio, RN, CRNP
VAPHS -
University Drive Division
Pain Clinic
Mary Lou Bossio works directly with hundreds of
inpatients and outpatients to help them manage chronic pain. She was our nominee
in the CRNP category.
 Peggy
Connolly, RN
VAPHS - University Drive Division
Same Day Surgery
Peggy Connolly serves as a role
model for staff and graduate nurses as a team player who is always willing to
help wherever needed and takes care of patients from a holistic perspective.
 Jane
McClelland, RN, BSN
VAPHS -
Highland Drive Division
Center for the Treatment of Addictive Disorders
Jane McClelland works with
patients whose lives are complicated by drug and alcohol addictions as well as
medical and psychiatric issues. She also serves as a CPR instructor.
 Antoinette
Polite, RN
VAPHS - University Drive Division
4-West
Antoinette Polite is one of five registered
nurses in the Pittsburgh area chosen by the Pitt School of Nursing to receive
the first ever Cameos of Caring Endowment Scholarship!
 Vicki
M. Suchar, RN, BSN
VAPHS -
Heinz Division
2-South
Vicki Suchar cares for patients
and works to alleviate their concerns and complaints, while orienting new
employees, continuing her education, and encouraging others to do the same.
Fourth
Annual Cameos
of Caring Award Winners, 2002
 Carole
Barnes, RN
VAPHS - Heinz Division
Carole
Barnes is a charge nurse at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System - Heinz
Division. She has a diploma in nursing from St. Margaret Memorial
Hospital. Ms.
Barnes is responsible for
direct patient care as well as leading interdisciplinary team conferences.
She deals with the problems of the unit and concerns of the families on a
daily basis. Ms. Barnes knew nursing was the
career for her after she volunteered at the VA in Aspinwall when she was a
teenager. “ I saw that look in
the patients’ eyes that I was making a difference and I felt
a warm, wonderful feeling in my heart,” she says. Today,
Ms. Barnes is still making a difference in the lives of her patients. She recalls one special patient she cared for who never spoke and just
sat staring at the TV all the time. Although
most people only had limited conversations with the patient, Ms. Barnes talked
to him daily about different things. He
looked especially sad one day so Ms. Barnes went to him and gave him a hug.
The patient smiled and said, “I haven’t had a hug in 20 years.” After that day, he never stopped talking.
Ms. Barnes says, “I convey to my patients that I care about them, as
well as care for them.”
 Sharon
Marciniak
VAPHS - University Drive Division
Sharon Marciniak is a staff nurse at the University Drive
VA. She has a BSN in nursing from
Duquesne University. While taking care of patients on twelve various surgical
services, Ms. Marciniak is also responsible for taking care of many other duties
on the floor, such as interdisciplinary team meetings and precepting new
employees.In addition, Ms. Marciniak is also an Animal Friends
volunteer. A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ms. Marciniak
says that one of her favorite types of patients to take care of is the veteran
with a new laryngectomy. She recently had a
patient on her floor with this diagnosis and she spent a lot of time with him
and his wife teaching laryngectomy care. The
patient came in depressed and unable to do self-care. When he was discharged, he walked out the door smiling the whole way.
“ It really is a good example of how nursing can make such a difference
in a patient’s life,” Ms. Marciniak says.
 Colleen
Paul, PhD
VAPHS - University Drive Division
Colleen Paul is a Pulmonary Clinical Nurse Specialist at
the University Drive Division of the VAPHS. She has a diploma in nursing form the Shadyside Hospital School of
Nursing, a BSN and MSN from the University of Pittsburgh, and she has recently
achieved her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Paul manages a
caseload of patients with lung disease and sleep apnea and she initiated Pulmonary Rehabilitation several years ago,
which is still a service offered to veterans with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease. Ms. Paul is responsible for all Quality Improvement activities for
Pulmonary Service. She also
obtained a large research grant to study different approaches to evaluating
patients on home oxygen therapy. In addition, Ms. Paul participates in community health
fairs and she is a liaison between AWAKE (support group for sleep apnea) and
veterans. She also speaks at local,
regional, and national levels on pulmonary related topics. The inspiration for Ms. Paul’s nursing career came
from her grandmother who cared for family and friends with illnesses even though
she had no formal nursing education. Ms.
Paul can’t remember a day when she didn’t enjoy being a nurse and she says,
“ I find each day filled with gratification that I have made a positive
difference in someone’s life.
 Sandra
Rudert, RN
VAPHS -
Highland Drive Division
Sandra Rudert is a staff nurse and case manager in the
Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders (CTAD) at the Highland Drive VA.
She has a diploma in nursing from Citizen’s General Hospital School of
Nursing and she is currently enrolled in the accelerated RN to BSN program at
Waynesburg College. Ms. Rudert develops, implements, monitors, and modifies a
plan of care for patients with addictive disorders through an interdisciplinary
and collaborative team process. She
then sets up aftercare appointments and mental and physical support for the
Veteran’s recovery. In addition,
Ms. Rudert conducts groups and teaching on addiction and recovery. A resident of Sarver, Pennsylvania, Ms. Rudert is active in
her community, participating in health fairs and care for the elderly. Ms. Rudert had some doubts when she chose a nursing
career later in her life. But she
says, “I have grown to find nursing more rewarding than I ever could have
envisioned and can not imagine any other career so fulfilling.” Although working with substance abuse patients can be
especially challenging it can also be greatly rewarding. Ms. Rudert says, “The most satisfying part of my career is seeing
patients develop a better life and gain health and pride again.”
Third Annual Cameos of Caring Award Winner,
2001
 Ellesha Miller, RN
VAPHS - University Drive Division
Ellesha
Miller is the VA Pittsburgh Health System recipient of the third annual Cameos of Caring Award, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh
School of Nursing. Ms. Miller is the Charge Nurse on 4 West (formerly 6 East), a
35 bed surgical and continuous post - operative care unit at the University
Drive division. She embodies the essence of this prestigious award, daily
practicing the art of nursing with compassion, continual excellence and a zeal
for the health and well being of veterans. She is one of more than 25 winners
who were selected from hospitals and health care systems in Allegheny,
Washington and Westmoreland counties. Ms. Miller was honored at a Black Tie
Gala at the Pittsburgh Hilton on October 6, 2001. Congratulations!
|
