Milwaukee VA honors outstanding nurses during Nurses Week ceremony

The winners, one each in four categories:

• Cordel Green-James, nursing assistant/health tech/medical instrument tech
• Sheila Lee, licensed practical nurse
• Martin Mikell, registered nurse
• Kristin Olson, registered nurse in an expanded role

Cordel Green-James

Green-James, a nursing assistant in the Mental Health Division, was lauded for “going the extra mile for Veterans” and being “conscientious and detail oriented,” according to her nomination. “It is evident that she truly cares about Veterans and strives to do her job to the best of her ability.”

Green-James was cited for her work with environmental rounds, helping to identify issues with equipment. She also helped champion overhaul of a supply room, stocking it with necessities while discarding items no longer needed.

Her stroke identification training helped her get medical attention for a patient who was slurring his words, which led to prompt medical attention for the patient.

She has also taken on an informal leadership role on her floor, teaching registered nurses about safety protocols and bettering the orientation process.

“Cordel consistently exhibits outstanding qualities that make her an asset to our team. She is reliable, proactive and always completes tasks with utmost diligence,” her nomination read. “Her dedication, professionalism and positive attitude make her an ideal candidate for the Secretary Award.”

Sheila Lee

Lee, who works in the Domiciliary, was cited for her “positive attitude, commitment to professional excellence and clear dedication to Veterans,” according to her nomination. “Sheila goes above and beyond in her care for Veterans, ensuring they receive not only medical treatment but also compassionate support.”

She was lauded for her care in handling subcutaneous injections, with one Veteran insisting that only she administer his injections. She advocated for additional training in administration of injectable medication, which led to all nurses completing this competency for the 2024 fiscal year.

She also spearheads volunteer events and has organized haircuts for Veterans. “The joy and gratitude expressed by the Veterans, who talked about the experience for days, highlighted Sheila’s ability to make a positive impact on their lives through thoughtful, compassionate action,” her nomination said.

“Sheila embodies the qualities you would want in a nurse caring for your own loved ones. Her ability to connect with patients, alleviate their fears and provide high-quality care is unparalleled. … In every interaction, Sheila demonstrates that she truly cares about the people she serves, making her a shining example of excellence in nursing.”

Martin Mikell

Mikell, who works in the Yellow Clinic, was cited for being an effective communicator, mentor, collaborator and improvement advocate within the Milwaukee VA and for his work in the community.

“Evidence-based practice is the cornerstone of Dr. Mikell’s nursing practice,” according to his nomination, which noted that Mikell cares for approximately 1,000 Veterans. “He triages Veterans with evidence-based tools and resources to ensure their disposition is safe and appropriate.”

Mikell was lauded for a discharge call rate of greater than 95 percent, well above the goal of 75 percent.

Mikell also started a lunch-and-learn series for Primary Care, bringing nurses together for conversations with stakeholders and sharing articles focused on primary care.

His commitment to quality improvement is evident in a quantitative data project he developed, which led to changes for Primary Care providers entering orders before appointments and updating nursing policy orders.

His work with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate students and community research projects led to him being awarded the 2024 Excellence in Nursing Practice Award from the Eta Nu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Society.

“We are so honored and grateful for his many nursing contributions to Primary Care and UW-M, and for exuding ICARE values both personally and professionally,” his nomination stated.

Kristin Olson

Olson, nurse educator for the Medical Procedures Unit, “consistently demonstrates effective quality nursing practice within the health care system by actively participating in performance improvement and identifying opportunities for safe and innovative practice,” according to her nomination.

In the MPU, Olson has overseen implementation of a number of project and procedures, including Bravo, Annie App, Provation, Spyglass and a fire risk assessment tool. She also figured out that endoscopies were being damaged during the bumpy ride to the Sterile Processing building and helped improve cushioning to prevent damage in the future.

When it was revealed that iced saline used during bronchoscopies was introducing contaminants, Olson came up with a solution — using pre-drawn syringes of sterile saline in the original packaging. This solution led to her being nominated for VA’s Shark Tank program.

“Kristin’s seamless practice and demonstration of ICARE values make her an indispensable nurse in MPU,” her nomination states. “She is a leader to her fellow colleagues, an educator and an advocate for our Veterans. Kristin was born to be a nurse — a VA nurse — and we are honored she is part of the MPU team.”

Other honorees

Also recognized during the ceremony:

• Progressive Care Unit — Beacon Award for Excellence, Silver Level
• Community Living Center — continuous five-star ratings since 2022
• Emergency Department — Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation, Level 3
• DAISY Award winners:
  • Honorees: Elizabeth Erdmann, Andy Kramer, Dana Asmondy, Anna Weinkauf, Sheryl Fronek, Laura Wilz, Amanda Holmbald, Alana Woodfill, Sarita Presnal, Grace Davies.
  • Team DAISY: Medical Procedures Unit team
  • Wisconsin League for Nursing DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators: Lindsey Fouth