St. Catherine Hospital selects top nurses, caregivers during national nurses week

St. Catherine Hospital selects top nurses, caregivers during national nurses week

St. Catherine Hospital celebrated their healthcare professionals’ talents of leadership, skill and compassionate care during National Nurses Week. Some 39 nurses and patient care technicians received recognition at the Nursing Excellence Awards Tea. Katie Cruz, RN, was selected from that group to receive the 2019 Nursing Excellence Award. Patient Care Technician Nicole Parodi was recipient of the 2019 Caregiver Excellence Award.

“It is impossible to have a great hospital without great nurses and great nursing care,” said Paula Swenson, vice president Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. “We have an excellent nursing staff at St. Catherine Hospital. I am also proud of the many outstanding staff who were not nominated, yet exhibit the characteristics of excellent patient care, leadership, empowerment, motivation and compassion.”

Cruz has worked at St. Catherine Hospital for seven years. A charge nurse on 6 West, a medical surgical unit, she is described as a natural leader who displays knowledge, dedication and patience that has impacted other nurses.

“She is THE person you want at your side when times become challenging,” said nurse manager Alanna Hunter-Parks. “She is a teacher and a leader. She shows staff what it means to be supportive and what it means to be part of a dedicated team.”

Patient Care Technician Nicole Parodi was nominated by her coworkers on the Intermediate Care Unit for her passion and special energy.

“Many times I have seen her give a patient a bath after her shift is technically over because it needs to be done. She doesn’t leave things undone…EVER,” Intermediate Care Unit nurse manager Meridith Dorge said. “I would want her to take care of me or any of my family members. She has excellent organization and time management skills. She takes time to explain things to the patient and their family.”                                                         

Other nursing/caregiver excellence honorees this year include: Kristie Habenicht, RN, clinical case manager; Tiwanna Kimble, PCT, 6 West; Helen Hernandez, RN, Same Day Surgery; Rachel Noojin, RN, 6 West; Dawn Fredson, RN, 6 West; Chanel King, PCT, 6 West; Sara Bustos, operational assistant, Behavioral Health Services; Karina Alcantar, RN, Emergency Department; Amanda Clark, RN, Intensive Care Unit; Vera Moore, RN, 5 West; Hilda Pellot, PCT, 5 West; Susan Dominik, RN, Pre-Admitting; Mikaela Guzman, PCT, Intermediate Care Unit; Alison Cook, RN, Intermediate Care Unit; Lauren Corradin, RN, Intermediate Care Unit;Lauren Zipse, RN, Acute Rehab Unit;Barbara Plumer, RN, Intermediate Care Unit; Elizabeth Osborne, PCT, Behavioral Health Services, Susan Silva, RN, Behavioral Health Services, Jolita Risteski, RN, Case Management; Cameron Julkes, PCT, 5 West; Tamaryn Morris, PCT, Acute Rehabilitation Unit; Stephanie Lineback, unit assistant, Intermediate Care Unit; JR Perez, PCT, Intermediate Care Unit; Steve Pritchard, RN, Intermediate Care Unit; Veronica Redmond, RN, Acute Rehabilitation Unit; Nichole Misiak, RN, Emergency Department; Donnetta James, PCT, Acute Rehabilitation Unit; Lisa Luna, RN, 5 West; Madeleine Lim, RN, Intermediate Care Unit; Vanessa Paraschos, RN, Emergency Department; Michele Ferrell, RN, Behavioral Health Services; Nina Pistalo, RN, Cath Lab, Erin Smigiel, RN, Intensive Care Unit; Natasha Hudak, RN, 5 West; Sherice Eskew, PCT, Acute Rehabilitation Unit and Willie Hurson, mental health worker coordinator, Behavioral Health Services.

For the past 17 years, nursing has topped the list of the most-trusted professions in the United States, said St. Catherine Hospital CEO Leo Correa at the Nursing Excellence Awards Tea.

“The Gallup organization shows that nursing has some of the highest ratings for honesty and ethical standards among all professions polled,” Correa said. “The poll showed that 84 percent of Americans view nurses’ ethics as high or very high. For those of us at St. Catherine Hospital, the results come as no surprise. We see how patients build trust in our amazing team of nurses and assistive nursing personnel across the hospital and outpatient facilities day in and day out.” To learn more about St. Catherine Hospital and the Community Healthcare System, visit: www.comhs.org