Nurses who ‘go beyond the call’ to be honored

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Ten Backus Hospital nurses and one Backus Home Health Care nurse will receive prestigious Nightingale awards at a regional celebration being held May 8.

 The awards, named after the legendary nurse Florence Nightingale who is credited with transforming the nursing profession, are given to nurses who go above and beyond the call and stand out among their peers in the nursing profession.

They range in age, experience and expertise, but one thing they all share is a deep passion for nursing.

The 10 Backus nurses chosen by a committee of past recipients to receive the Nightingale Awards are:

  • Lynne Barlow, RN, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center
  • Judy Childs, RN, Emergency Department
  • Susan Finkelstein, RN, MIS
  • Daryl Hurlock, RN, A-4
  • Sandra Jeffers, RN, E-1 Surgical
  • Julie Leese, RN, E-3
  • Paula Novak, RN, Healing Touch
  • Lisa Orowson, RN, Nursing Education
  • Lynda Scott, RN, Patient Care Services
  • Debbie Zahacefski, RN, E-4

The Backus Home Health Care recipient is:

  • M.A. Duchene, RN, Backus Home Health Care

 “Congratulations to our recipients and all of our nominees for Florence Nightingale Awards,” said Karen Long, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. “This is a great honor and a testament to the hard work you put in every day for the good of our patients. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to delivering high quality, compassionate care.”

“We are proud of our 2008 Nightingale Awards recipients at Backus Hospital,” said Thomas P. Pipicelli, President and Chief Executive Officer at Backus. “We also recognize all of the Nightingale Awards recipients for the care and compassion that they provide every day.”

The nurses will receive their awards at the annual Nightingale Awards Ceremony, held during National Nurses’ Week on May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton. For ticket information, call Linda Griswold at 444-1111, ext. 304.

Lynne Barlow, RN, was first exposed to Backus Hospital as a junior volunteer. Then she worked as a CNA on weekends at Backus during nursing school, which convinced her to enter the nursing profession, where she has been for the past 19 years. She is currently a certified wound care specialist in the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at the Backus Outpatient Care Center, where she not only cares for patients, but is involved in choosing wound care products, collaborating with home care agencies and working to improve the overall continuity of care for patients. “There is no profession as rewarding as nursing,” said Ms. Barlow. A colleague who nominated her used three simple words to describe her nursing skills: “Extraordinary patient care,” he said.  

Judy Childs, RN, Emergency Department, likes to say that “nursing is not just a job, it’s a profession.” For Ms. Childs, that profession has taken her from California to Connecticut, and given her the opportunity to perform in many emergency department roles, ranging from preceptor to LIFE STAR flight nurse. She is dedicated to working closely with families to keep them abreast of their loved ones’ conditions, and is a presenter for Backus Hospital’s Be Aware program for teen drivers. In her department, she has taken part in numerous projects, including the Emergency Department Practice Council, restructuring of paramedic’s roles; re-evaluating ED processes, streamlining the ED crash cart and many more activities related to improving patient care and the work environment. She continues to learn, as evidenced by her recent paramedic certification. “Judy is an excellent nurse who demonstrates a high level of clinical excellence,” said a colleague who nominated her. 

For 40 years Susan Finkelstein, BS, RN, CNOR, has worked towards receiving a Nightingale Award. What she is being honored for is nothing new for her. Throughout her 40-year-career at Backus Hospital, she has sought out ways to progress in her career, continue learning and pass that knowledge on to her nursing colleagues. She was an LPN from 1967 to 1991, before receiving her RN degree, Bachelor’s of Science Degree and certification as an operating room nurse. Her operating room career took a new turn this year, as she took on the role of Surgical Services’ Informatics Nurse. She has also served as a preceptor and mentor for countless nurses, and serves on the Universal Protocol Task Force, OR Leadership, and other leadership roles at Backus. “I value information and enjoy passing along information to my peers,” sahe said. And she has earned her peers’ respect. “Susan is an incredible team player, with both staff and surgeons,” said a Backus colleague who nominated her. “She is well respected and most deserving of this award.” 

Daryl Hurlock, RN, Clinical Director of A-4, has admirers both inside and outside her profession. That’s because of her involvement in a wide range of hospital projects, involving nursing and other areas. She has been involved in everything from patient flow and finance projects to fundraising for the BackusCare campaign and participation in the Core Values Committee. She plays a lead role in nursing recruitment activities such as Nurse Camp and makes new graduate nurses feel at home on her floor. But what she is most respected for is being an advocate for patients and her fellow nurses.  “Daryl is a real patient and nurse advocate,” said one colleague who nominated her. “She is very caring. She makes sure that the nurses on her unit have the resources they need to provide outstanding care to their patients. And she makes sure that someone is always speaking for the patient and respects the needs of families. She is a prefect example of what the award was meant to honor.”  

Sandra Jeffers, RN, E-1 Surgical, is dedicated to patient-centered care and nurturing the nurses of tomorrow at Backus Hospital. “I feel that being kind and supportive is part of my job,” said Ms. Jeffers, who has been a nurse for 34 years, has 25 years of critical care experience and is certified in ACLS, PALS, critical care and moderate sedation. She helped design the very popular Same Day Surgery program for pediatric patients at Backus, and never passes up the opportunity to mentor interns, graduate nurses or anyone else in the nursing profession. She said teamwork is what makes E-1 Surgical a special place to work, and she is hesitant to accept personal accolades. “There are many excellent nurses throughout the hospital who deserve recognition for their dedication and hard work,” she said. “It is an honor for me to be nominated for a Nightingale Award.” The physician who nominated her said “Sandy is calm, reasonable, hard-working, intelligent and well-liked by all my patients … ” 

Julie Leese, RN, E-3 Evening Clinical Coordinator, doesn’t recall any letters being written praising her for patient care. But she remembers the hugs. Lots of them. “I do not leave them feeling alone,” said the 20-year-veteran nurse. “They know I will do everything I can to care for them and advocate for them.” Ms. Leese is well known for being an advocate of bedside nursing. She also believes in education as a way to improve nursing care. “I believe strongly in educating yourself to stay current and competent and bringing that directly back to help your patients.” She is also known as being a team player, dedicated to her work and always helpful. “Her patients receive nothing but the very best care,” said two of her colleagues that nominated her. “She deserves this nomination more than anyone we know, and she is a shining example of what it means to be a nurse.” 

Paula Novak, RN, MA, CHTP, has seen the pendulum swing in her 36 years as a nurse — and she’s right in the middle of it. The Clinical Coordinator of Healing Touch and Integrative Care is a mentor for healing touch students and teaches the Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster program, is on the Center for Healthcare Integration (CHI) Committee, a member of the Head and Neck Support Group, writes a column for the Norwich Bulletin and serves as an overall bridge between the complementary therapies and traditional medicine. She said informing nurses about Healing Touch and other therapies not only helps heal patients, but helps the nurses enjoy their jobs more. “Paula has worked hard to bring complementary care services including Healing Touch to Backus and the community she serves,” said a Same Day Surgery nurse who nominated her. “She works countless hours with both hands on care and training/supervision of others.” 

Education has long been a part of Lisa Orowson’s responsibilities at Backus, whether it be for patients or co-workers. This will continue for Ms. Orowson, RN, MSN, CWOCN, in her new role as Skin, Wound and Ostomy Nurse, which is an essential component of patient safety at Backus. She serves as a resource for the nursing staff, providing clinical support, mentoring and education, integrating evidence-based practices and national standards into patient care. She started her career at Backus on the A-2 oncology floor in 1991, and transferred to Nursing Education in 2001. She remains a member of the hospital’s Skin and Wound Care Committee and the Pressure Ulcer Collaborative Team. She is also a CPR instructor, mentor and a Patient Care Technician Clinical Instructor for Three Rivers Community College. “Lisa is quite simply an excellent role model for all nurses,” said a colleague who nominated her. “She is an educator for patients, staff and students. … Her expertise has resulted in a lasting influence on the community and the nursing profession.” 

 

As nursing supervisor during the day shift Lynda Scott, RN, BSN, carries an enormous amount of responsibility and does so with amazing ease. At any given time, she can be called on to make major decisions in times of crisis or disaster. Whether it is fielding calls from newspaper reporters and the Public Relations department or deciding to put the hospital in disaster mode, this 33-year-veteran remains cool, calm and strikingly efficient. She is Director of the Float Pool, a member of the hospital’s Emergency Management Committee, the Hearing Impaired Liaison and has been a member of the Practice Council. “Lynda strives to put patient care first, as well as to help her staff to be able to provide the best care for their patients. … She listens to employees concerns and is always readily available,” said one person who nominated her. 

Debbie Zahacefski, RN, E-4, has been called “a model nurse.” “Debbie gives her all to her patients,” said one person who nominated her. “She cares for them as if they were her family. … She is everything a nurse should be — knowledgeable, kind, caring and compassionate.” Her 14-year career includes experience in CCU, home care and now cardiac care, which is her passion. She has been involved on the Practice Council and Quality Improvement initiatives, and is a big believer in communication among staff as a way to improve patient care and the work environment. “She goes above and beyond for her patients — and E-4. Debbie is the kind of nurse I would want to care for my family or me,” a colleague said.

Described as a Florence Nightingale in the 21st century, M.A. Duchene, RN, Backus Home Health Care, is known for demonstrating a commitment to people, especially within the behavioral health community, that reaches far beyond her daily work at Backus Home Health Care.  Her passion for nursing is evident in her advocacy for patients, never accepting no for an answer and working tirelessly to make things happen. She’s also passionate in the community, reaching out to the homeless community with health screenings, clothing donations and volunteering with her staff at the local Soup Kitchen.  Her prior work brought her to Nicaragua where she spent three weeks working with a small community to evaluate and improve the water quality and filtration system. She and her family also run a farm for neglected and abused animals. She’s also pursuing post-graduate study in Public Health at UConn’s School of Nursing.  “M.A.’s positive outlook and energy inspires everyone she meets,” said one person who nominated her. “She is a positive role model to all that meet her in both her professional and personal life. She has a dedication to life and serve that Florence Nightingale herself would be proud of.”