Barb Peterson, (left), a 40-year Cardiac Unit registered nurse who has been with Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point all of her career, is congratulated by outgoing hospital president David Ruskowski after receiving Franciscan St. Anthony’s 2015 Nightingale Award, on May 8. As an observance of National Nurses Week in May, the hospital’s Performance Improvement Council of Shared Decision Making annually chooses a winner from among nominees. Among nominee comments about Peterson: “There are great nurses and there are exceptional nurses.
Very few earn that title, but Barb has, over and over. Barb takes each patient to heart; remembering their faces, names, diagnoses and stories. She has earned the utmost respect of her colleagues and the trust of physicians. She is a book of knowledge, a ball of strength; one of the most exceptional, compassionate, intelligent, nurturing, loving and hardworking nurses.” Peterson said she appreciated those who nominated her. ”It feels like family to me here. I really appreciate everything about this hospital – everyone always has been there for me. I respect everyone who works here.”