On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC) held its Excellence in Nursing Awards. This annual celebration of our nurses, traditionally held during Nurses Week in May, was instead held as two outdoor, socially-distanced ceremonies.
“I am honored to lead a staff of over 1,500 nurses who have all made the decision to dedicate themselves to the care of others. Our nurses take the lead in ensuring the delivery of our mission to each and every patient by providing compassionate care in a setting of health care excellence and superior service,” said Maggie Lundberg, MSN, MPA, RN, CCRN, Chief Nursing Officer. “We are all thrilled to have the opportunity to come together and recognize our nurses who demonstrate excellence.”
Marcia Reinfeld Samuels and Morton Abraham Samuels Fund Award In Honor of N. Peter Zauber, MD
Established in 1985, this award recognizes nurses who exemplify excellence in nursing by going above and beyond, standing out, possessing excellent clinical skills and being dependable. The continuation of this award is made possible through the generous support of Gail Lobel and family. Each honoree is celebrated for the significant and extraordinary impact they have had on the lives of their colleagues, patients and their loved ones. We thank them for all they do to inspire, innovate and influence the nursing profession.
Pictured with Gail Lobel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuels (from left) are Paul Luna, BSN, RN-BC, Intensive Care Unit; Michelle Rice, APN, MSN, ACNPC-AG, CCRN, Rapid Response Team; Margaret Correale, BSN, RN, OCN, CN-BN, Oncology Navigation, Cancer Services; Elizabeth Vocaturo, MSN, RN, CWON, Wound Care; Jean Sisto, RN, Pediatrics; and Coleen Gurkas, BSN, RN, CRN, MPH, Imaging, Ambulatory Care Center.
Margaret Correale, BSN, RN, OCN, CN-BN, Oncology Navigation, Cancer Services
Margaret was nominated for her work as a leader in Radiation Oncology, pioneering patient navigation for cancer patients, and mentoring new staff. Margaret has followed many patients throughout their cancer journey. Her goal: to get patients timely appointments and to diminish any barriers to care. She embodies our program model in providing a single point of contact, timely access to care, coordinates/facilities access to services, and follows the patient and family through the continuum of care. This is the essence of what true patient navigation is. She has been extremely successful in offering this unique and much needed service to our patients, families, and loved ones. Margaret is dependable, honest, sincere and competent. She is devoted to her work as a nurse. Her colleagues see her as a great resource and mentor, and is known as the “go to person” for the interdisciplinary team. Margaret also participates on many committees, programs, and projects. Margaret is an exceptional nurse, colleague and patient advocate. She embodies our mission of compassionate care, health care excellence, and superior service.
Coleen Gurkas, BSN, RN, CRN, MPH, Imaging, Ambulatory Care Center
While Coleen does not hold a formal leadership position in our organizational structure, she demonstrates leadership in many other ways. A leader can be defined as someone who works well with a team, motivates her peers to develop professionally, and pushes the team to do what is best for our patients – that’s Coleen. She is an educator and preceptor for all new hires in the Imaging Center – a role that shows her excellent listening and communication skills. She is flexible, an advocate for professional development and always willing to do extra to drive us towards success. Many patients have complimented Coleen on the compassion she shows to them. This compassion is also noted by Coleen’s peers. Leading by example is the best way to encourage coworkers to develop their own ideas to achieve patient satisfaction. Leadership is not about a title or position, a true leader is someone like Coleen. She recognizes the potential in her peers and works with them to develop their career paths within RWJBarnabas Health.
Paul Luna, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, Intensive Care Unit
With multiple nominations, Paul has been described as a very compassionate, caring, and dependable nurse. He is also very down to earth and approachable, and makes everyone feel as though they are his best friends, using humor to effectively communicate and advocate for patients that may not even be under his care. He is not your typical nurse who sticks to his three-day a week schedule, you’ll see him almost every day working in the unit, giving his 100% best at caring for his patients. When COVID-19 initially hit, we were unaware of how tragic the results would be. As his nominator described, “One example that truly captures his caring nature is when I was taking care of a COVID-19 patient who was on maximum therapy and who did not have an opportunity to be placed on comfort care. I was standing at the nurse’s station in front of the monitors trying to catch his asystole rhythm. He noticed me there for a while and he uttered the truest, most sincere command, ‘Go inside your patient’s room and hold his hand.’ We witness deaths so often in the ICU that we subconsciously think of it as a task and forget that we are still humans with emotions. He resurrected my novice soul and inspires me to be a better nurse every day. He is someone I would trust to take care of my loved ones. He makes our days so much more bearable and he brings joy to his patients, their families, and his colleagues. It is a privilege to work with him.”
Michelle Rice, APN, MSN, ACNPC-AG, CCRN, Rapid Response Team
Michelle was nominated for her sincerity, intelligence, reliability, enthusiasm, and devotion to her work. As her nomination describes, “Every time I call you, I know that you will get back to me and help me in whatever way possible. There is never a time where I have called you, and you have not shown up with a smile, even for the tiniest things. Whether my patient is septic, hypoxic, having an MI, needs a new IV, or I need help putting an NG tube in, you are always there to help and willing to teach us your best practices for certain acts of nursing. Specifically, I admire how calm and collected you are when you show up to an emergency. The patient can be crashing, I could be internally screaming, and the whole room can be in chaos, but you are able to step back from all of that and critically think, all the while being calm. During the initial and later stages of the Pandemic, you were the light for 2300 and the whole hospital. The skills and knowledge you brought to codes helped both the nurses and the residents. You are always there, always thinking ahead, and there is always the best outcomes with you around. You go above and beyond for both patients and the staff. I thank you for all that you do for me and the whole hospital.”
Jean Sisto, RN, Pediatrics
Jean has worked as a PICU nurse for 25 years. For those who have not had the privilege of working with Jean, here is how your day will go. You will need to wear a diaper because she will have you laughing all day with her smooth dance moves and good spirits. She always brings a smile to the faces of her co-workers, patients, and their families, even on the hardest days. During the pandemic, she was enthusiastic about coming to work and was always willing to help not only PICU but NICU and FCC. Her motto is “teamwork makes the dream work” and she will always have your back. Her peers look to her for her knowledge and guidance. She makes sure each nurse feels confident in what they are doing, and will stay with them if they are unsure. And you will know who her patients are because their rooms will be the cleanest, filled with toys, and the parents will have a fresh cup of coffee and a muffin. She cares for the families like they are her very own. She is the biggest advocate for her patients. This is just a quick glimpse for working with Jean. Thank you for all you do. The children and families at Barnabas are lucky to be cared for by Jean. Each nurse she works alongside is privileged to have Jean as a role model and co-worker. She is an absolute champion of a nurse.
Elizabeth Vocaturo, MSN, RN, CWON, Wound Care
Liz encompasses the traits that this award strives to recognize and exemplifies SBMC’s mission of delivering compassionate care, health care excellence, and superior service to all she meets. To illustrate this, her nominator shared a few words that capture how Liz internalizes the essence of our values and the traits that this award strives to recognize. The first word is “Nice.” Liz uses this word when teaching and mentoring as a way to affirm newly acquired skills she has just taught. When Liz says “nice,” it means someone has done a good job and should feel confident in their new skill. It is a simple work but when coming from Liz it holds so much value and importance. Next is “Challenging.” This is used by many wound and ostomy nurses, but Liz is always up for a challenge. Liz tackles challenges by drawing from her vast knowledge from being a certified nurse and resources learned from attending many conferences. She is able to help her peers work through their challenges with her confidence and skills. For Liz, challenges are just another opportunity to deliver nursing excellence for her patients and their families. Next is “Authentic.” During the last year, we were all tested beyond normal limits but Liz never wavered. She did what she always does, provide work that she can be proud of. Liz is authentic and that allows her to produce work that is always genuine. Lastly is “After You.” When riding the busy elevators in the medical center, Liz will never steps off the elevator first; instead, she can be heard saying “after you”. While seen as a small gester, we are only as good as the small gesters that not only make up our day, but essentially reflect our core values. She is, as this award seeks, reliable to do the right thing not only in difficult times but all the time. Nice, challenging, authentic, and after you, these are just seemingly random words, but the hope is that when we hear or think about these words, we think about Liz. We think about how we can all strive to incorporate the CHESS values in to our daily practice the way Liz has clearly done.
DAISY Team Award
The DAISY Foundation recognizes that while an idea to achieve better patient and family outcomes may start with one individual, it often takes an entire team to implement it successfully. This award honors collaboration and teamwork of a group of two or more people, led by a nurse, who identify and meet the needs of the patients and their families by going above and beyond the traditional role of nursing.
Pictured from the PICU are Liz Ricciardi, BSN, RN; Vanessa Silva, BSN, RN, Rebecca Sachs, RN, and Laura Trovato, BSN, with their nominator Uzma N. Hasan, MD.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
After learning a patient was falling behind in school because they did not have a laptop, the PICU nurses gathered funds to purchase the family a Chromebook and a gift card to assist with their needs. After discovering how many more families were facing similar struggles, they brainstormed and have begun to develop a laptop drive with the community and SBMC’s Development Department. These nurses showed immense compassion and dedication toward a patient and their family. At Saint Barnabas, patients and families are at the center of our CCHESS model and these nurses are the prime example of putting all the puzzle pieces together to work toward a goal. They are selfless and embody the mission and values of Saint Barnabas.
Cardiac (2300/2 West Telemetry)
The entire staff of 2300 and 2 West Telemetry consistently goes above and beyond in caring for their patients. During the initial COVID-19 surge, they went from caring for cardiac patients to caring for patients with a new disease that little was known about. Despite their fear and anxieties, they donned their PPE with pride and tended to their patients. They coordinated with patients’ families to do FaceTime meetings, sometimes using their own personal cell phones, just so patients wouldn’t be alone. Caring for the sickest of the sick for them is an honor, while demonstrating empathy in delivering the best care to their patients.
The nurses on this unit are actively engaged in quality improvement and utilizing evidence-based practice to promote safety in delivering care to their patients. Their collaboration, teamwork, effective communication, and therapeutic relationships with their patients are their greatest strengths. As part of their professional development, the pursuit to obtain certification was embraced by the nurses from 2300. Within eight months, 12 nurses achieved their Progressive Care Nursing Certification. This entire team is the epitome of great teamwork and makes differences in the lives of their patients, families, employees, and the community. Under the supervision of their Clinical Director, Immaculata Nosike, and Patient Care Coordinators, Irysa Filimonczuk and Sally Duffy, they embody the mission of CCHESS. They indeed have the competencies and character to deliver safe, high quality patient care.
Intensive and Cardiac Care Units (ICU and CCU)
This nomination is a homage to two unique units that came together as one in an immeasurable crisis. The Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) have always cared for some of the sickest in the hospital, therefore nursing staff expects the unexpected and adapts. That changed in March of 2020, they met a challenge that no one could have anticipated. The ICU and CCU became the eye of the COVID critical care crisis. The vulnerable human beings who came to the unit exhibited such severe symptoms making their battle for life minute to minute. Although the pandemic prevented patients from having their loved ones at their bedside, they did not die alone; a nurse was at their side demonstrating the compassion that is the foundation of critical care nursing.
Every practicing critical care nurse is able to take whatever comes his or her way and this time was no exception. Together these nursing teams developed ways to keep the patients safe and manage their multiple medications all while keeping themselves safe in order to be able to go home at the end of their shifts to their families. There was fear, and there was sadness, but mostly there was nursing professional level excellence and ingenuity that met constant new trials.
These two teams functioned as one and although they were all affected differently, they as a team they did what nurses do; put the patients first. Critical Care nurses are never glamourized, they are just there when needed yet they are a constant clinical support that saves lives on a regular basis. The word hero, used during the height of a pandemic, is a genuine definitive term for this critical care team.
DAISY Nurse Leader Award
The Daisy Nurse Leader Award recognizes nurse leaders who provide a safe, compassionate environment for the staff, and role model exemplary caring behaviors while working under tremendous pressure in a complex health care setting. These leaders inspire and motivate their staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients.
Stephanie Richter, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, Manager, Nursing Education Stephanie, pictured left, received 6 nominations from 8 different people. She was described as an amazing and effective mentor who leads by being empathetic to the staff and always encourages new ideas and creative thinking while also promoting autonomy. She empowers the team, leads by example, models extraordinary behavior by walking the walk and talking the talk. Her compelling communication unifies the team through a clear message: we support each other and together can accomplish anything. 2020 pulled her department in many directions and, despite their full plate, thanks to Stephanie, they were able to achieve accreditation for our RN Residency Program with distinction; submit quality improvement posters for dissemination; and submit and receive acceptance for publishing in a nursing peer-review journal. Stephanie makes the impossible possible.
Liz McCarthy, MSN, RN, Clinical Director, Medical Surgical (4100-4700)
Liz, pictured center, received multiple nominations and embodies the best qualities in a leader. Last March, we found ourselves in the midst of the ultimate challenge. We were scared, and perhaps most importantly, we had no idea what we were up against, but Liz’s optimism never faltered. When her unit was converted to a 100% COVID-19 unit, you never saw her sweat. She reported daily changes in protocols and reviewed the plan for the day, handled staff concerns with kindness and empathy, and kept things on track despite the swirling chaos of the pandemic. Without this unwavering guidance, the situation could have easily felt overwhelming and terrifying, but instead her leadership further unified and directed the team.
There were days when her unit would have multiple codes and deaths. Many of her nurses were new to the profession and hadn’t faced this level of acuity before. She’d debrief with them, making sure their needs were met by addressing them as a resource and support rather than “just” a boss. She remembers little details about her staff and understands their unique strengths and weaknesses. This is what everyone should wish for in a leader—someone who not only supports you but also sees the potential in you (that maybe you can’t see in yourself). She is a huge asset to the unit and hospital and that the RNs and NAs feel very lucky to have her.
Nelly Vitug, BSN, RN, Clinical Director, Medial, Surgical Telemetry Step Down (1 West)
Nelly, pictured right, received multiple nominations and has shown dedication to the organization through her many years of commitment. She is extremely knowledgeable, shows concern for others, and is continuously thinking outside the box. She has the ability to see the potential of each nurse that we sometimes do not see in ourselves. She sets examples that the staff wish to emulate, is confident, and displays a remarkable amount of conviction. With daily huddles and monthly check-ins with her team, Nelly communicates a shared vision and clear goal for professional development. She starts every huddle with a win and recognizes staff members who were mentioned by patients through rounds or patient phone calls.
It is easy to recognize that she has created a positive environment that encourages others to be their best. She has the ability to understand what motivates the staff and sees things from their perspective. She holds others accountable for their actions, while expecting others to hold her accountable too. She goes above and beyond for her staff as she teaches, coaches, and genuinely cares about her employees. She aims for excellence and takes the care of the patients on this floor very seriously, giving her heart and soul into her role every day. She is an ideal Nurse Leader to model after.
Susann Governale Emergency Department Nurse of the Year
This award allows Saint Barnabas Emergency Department staff members the opportunity to recognize an exceptional nurse who acts as a true team player and creates positive interactions with colleagues and staff.
Matthew Runfola, ADN, Emergency Department
Jane Benjamin Memorial Scholarship Award
Established in 2010, The Jane Benjamin Memorial Scholarship/Award recognizes the compassion and expertise of employees who wish to further their education through college courses or a work-related educational seminar, conference or class. This award is given to employees of the Oncology Unit and Hospice. The fund was established through the generosity of friends and family of Jane Benjamin including her longtime devoted companion Frank Goodman and her two dearly beloved sons, Peter and Jim.
Janet Mutinda Kitetra, BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology (2 West) (not pictured)
Pursuing a Mater’s Degree in Nursing
Kaitlin Sweirczek, BSN, RN, Oncology (2 West)
Pursuing Oncology Nurse Certification
George H. Steisel Pulmonary Fund Scholarship Award
Established in 1997, the George H. Steisel Pulmonary Fund Award recognizes employees who exemplify excellence in caring for pulmonary patients.
Linda Zucchino, RRT, Respiratory Therapy
Dr. Herbert E. Spiegel and Girard J. Spiegel Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was created in 2006 by Dr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Spiegel in memory of their son and later renamed after Dr. Spiegel’s passing. It is presented to a member of the 5200 nursing staff to improve his or her quality of life through education. This award recognizes the compassionate, competent and outstanding work being done by this wonderful team.
Jessica Noonan, BSN, RN, Pulmonary (5200)
Pursuing a Nurse Practitioner Degree
Joi Mann Mentorship Award
Joi Mann was the Nurse Manager for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. She was a dedicated, passionate nurse who loved caring for the children who were admitted to her unit as if they were her own. She cared for her nurses just the same. She mentored them from novice nurses into independent, strong clinicians and made every effort to celebrate their successes. She was a true nursing leader. Joi's young life ended before its time in 2011. Saint Barnabas Medical Center lost a dedicated professional, a friend and a dear part of our family. This award was created in her honor to recognize a nurse who exemplifies the mentorship and leadership qualities for which Joi is remembered.
Rebecca Sachs, RN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Lizbeth and David Straus Caring Hands Award
This award symbolizes the genuine caring and generosity of spirit that was the very essence of both Lizbeth and David Straus. They were optimistic in spirit, intelligent, charitable and just fun to be around. The fund was initially established in 2002 in memory of Mrs. Straus, in appreciation of the care she received as a patient. With the loss of Mr. Straus in 2007, the family renamed the fund to honor this deeply loved and respected couple whose devotion to each other, family, friends and community was an inspiration. The award recognizes outstanding Nursing Assistants who exhibit empathy and responsiveness; cooperate well with members of the whole health care team; possess exemplary skills; and display strong initiative in all situations. The fund is sustained through the generosity and support of Lizbeth and David Straus’ daughters, friends and family.
Pictured above, from left, are honorees Cedric Beteta, Orthopedics (4 West); Janis Asiedu, Medial Surgical Telemetry Step Down (1 West); Joan Anderson, Pre-Admission Testing; and Karisma Lamsis, Emergency Department. Shirley Ann Grant, Medical “Surgical (2200) is not pictured.
Kathleen “Katy” Hanf Making a Difference Award
2012 marked the inaugural year of these two awards created to memorialize the legacy of Kathleen “Katy” Hanf through the generosity and support of her loving family and friends. Katy was a patient in the Cancer and Infusion Centers since 1995. In her last days, which were spent in 2200 and 2300, Katy often remarked about the professionalism, skill, compassion, and most importantly, willingness of the staff to give their all to ensure each patient received the best care. The first award is given to a member of the 2200 or 2300 team and the second award is given to an employee in The Cancer Center or Infusion Center in recognition of their highly compassionate care and their ability to make a difference in the lives of both patients and their families at even the most difficult times.
Suzanne Russo, ONCC, ONS, Infusion Center
Imelda Perez-Bulos, BSN, RN, PCCN, Cardiac (2300) (not pictured)
Janice M. Gamper Nursing Scholarships
This scholarship was created and is sustained by Janice M. Gamper, RN. As a nurse herself, Mrs. Gamper understands the plight of nursing students and, as was her intention, the scholarship provides financial support to help them accomplish their dreams. As one of Saint Barnabas Medical Center's first scholarship programs, first presented in 2003, the award offers nursing students the opportunity to gain nursing knowledge and experience which are crucial for success.
Pictured, from left, are honorees Jessica Rivera, Emergency Department; Claudia Conego, RN, Burn Intensive Care Unit; Natalie Hendricks, Care Coordination; Isabella Costa, Information Desk; Sandra Weintraub, RN, GI/Endosocopy; Kelly Story, RN, Medial Surgical Step Down (1 West).