Health System honors nursing staff
Tue, May 13, 2008
By ANDREW SMITHThe Brunswick NewsMore than 800 nurses are included in the Southeast Georgia Health System's 1,600 total employees. As National Nurses Week was observed last week across the U.S., SGHS took the time to honor those who play one of the most vital roles in health care. "By population, nurses are the largest group of health care providers," said Ellen Hamilton, vice president of patient care services for SGHS. "Nurses are the essential element in the delivery of care. For inpatients, they are there 24 hours a day, doing what patient would do if they were capable."Along with a pancake breakfast, hand treatments and other gifts, the System presented registered nurse team members, licensed practical nurses, and nurse management with Nurse of the Year awards. From the Health System's Brunswick campus, the RN of the Year was Leola Holton, the LPN was Alisa Keith and Michelle Atkinson, RN earned the Nurse Manager of the Year honor.
Team members from the Camden campus as well as the St. Marys Convalescent Center, were honored as Nurse of the Year as well.Hamilton noted the criteria each nurse of the year nominee must possess. "We're looking for nurses who provide service excellence, are a role model of caring, utilize team work, have integrity, make a contribution to improve health care and are effective communicators on all levels," Hamilton said.
"All three of them had the qualities we were looking for," Hamilton said of the Brunswick campus nurses. "Every day they make a difference in somebody's life."Each of the Brunswick honorees said they were surprised and excited to win the award. "It's a gift to do what we do," Keith said. "We try to get patients better faster and do the extra fluff that makes their stay more enjoyable. If we can have a positive effect on patients and change their perception of staying in hospital, then we've done our job."Both Atkinson, a nurse for 18 years, and Holton, who's been in nursing for 37 years, said nurses must rely on teamwork to care for each patient. "As the manager for outpatient surgery, I couldn't do my job without teamwork," Atkinson said. "I love working with people, and as a nurse you have to be a team player," Holton said. "We all have to stay positive and remember we're here to help our fellow man."
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