Cooper University Hospital is proud to recognize 16 nurses and other members of the healthcare delivery team at Cooper for their hard work and dedication. These prestigious, peer-nominated awards honor the work of the recipients, whose leadership and practice promote the delivery of quality healthcare at Cooper. Each award, together with Nurse of the Year, has its own set of criteria for eligibility, including three letters of recommendation from staff within each nominee’s clinical discipline.
“Every year, our nurses continue to go above and beyond their call of duty,” said Dianne S. Charsha, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “Their leadership and loyalty towards this hospital can be seen in the relationships they have with their fellow co-workers, patients and families. It is their unconditional compassion and devotion to this profession that continues to make Cooper a wonderful place to work.”
The 2011 Nurse of the Year Award has been given to Debbie Cannon, R.N., staff nurse in Cooper’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU). Cannon, of Beverly, N.J., has been a part of the Cooper family for over 30 years. She graduated from nursing school in 1974 from what it was then known as “The Cooper Hospital.” After graduation, she pursued several nursing careers in critical care at hospitals all over the Burlington County region and Philadelphia, including St. Agnes Burn Center, Philadelphia, P.A. She returned to Cooper in 1990 as a full time staff nurse in the TICU and has been there ever since. Known as a “First Alert” nurse in Cooper’s TICU, Cannon is one of the first to respond to incoming Trauma patients and is responsible for the immediate hands-on care of the new patient. As a part of the Trauma team, she not only takes care of the patient’s physical and emotional needs, but she also attends to the needs of the families.
Dianne S. Charsha, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer; John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO; Debbie Cannon, R.N., 2011 Nurse of the Year; Joan S. Davis, Vice Chairman.
“I have always thought that my every action and attitude influenced those around me; and as a bedside nurse, I truly believe I help facilitate healing for my patients and their families,” said Cannon. “This award is for all of “us” bedside nurses who know we make a difference in the lives of those that come to Cooper.”
This May, Cooper also celebrated the One Year Anniversary of the Nursing Shared Governance Council. A team of 74 staff nurses, together with nursing leadership, developed a new shared governance model at Cooper that allows direct care nurses the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process on all issues affecting the nursing profession including practice standards, policies and procedures, education and operation. Through this initiative, eight Nursing Councils and 22 Unit Based Councils (UBC) were developed. Since then, the members of these councils have become a pivotal “voice” in each of the clinical areas within the hospital, discovering that shared governance is essential to a productive and satisfying work environment.
Cooper’s 2010 Winners and Awards are:
- The Charlotte E. Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing:
Barbara Murphy, R.N.C.-OB, from Haddon Township, N.J. — Labor & Delivery - The UC/CADV Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing Practice:
Marilyn Yusay, R.N., from Blenheim, N.J. — Cardiac Catheterization Lab - The Selma & Martin Hirsch Clinical Excellence Award:
Jessie May Dotson, R.N., M.S.N., A.P.N., from Lumberton, N.J. — Anesthesia - Cooper Nursing Alumni Clinical Nurse Excellence Award
Kevin O’Brien, R.N., from Medford Lakes, N.J. — Intensive Care Unit - Carol Tracy Compassion Award:
Lisa McKeeby, R.N., B.S.N., C.R.N.I., from Williamstown, N.J. — SDS/SPU/PAT - The Moorestown Auxiliary Memorial Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing:
Megan Staerk, R.N.-B.C., B.S.N., from Delran, N.J. — Medical/Surgical Unit - John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Neonatal Nursing:
Cindy Garretson, R.N., B.S.N., from Audubon, N.J. — Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Nurse Leadership:
Kathy Devine, R.N., M.S.N., C.C.R.N., from Haddonfield, N.J. — Patient Care Services - The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Award for Nurse Mentorship:
Barbara Sproge, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., from Medford, N.J. — Palliative Care Medicine - The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Excellence Award for Nurse Research:
Stacey Staman, R.N., M.S.N., C.C.R.N., from Williamstown, N.J. — Trauma - The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice:
Stephanie Jennings, R.N., from Westampton, N.J. — Gynecology/Oncology - The Moorestown Auxiliary Memorial Award for Excellence in Outpatient Nursing:
Maria Eastlack, R.N., B.S.N., from Wenonah, N.J. — SDS/SPU - Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Pediatric Nursing:
Tammy Beringer, R.N., C.P.N., from Gloucester City, N.J. — Pediatrics - Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing:
Patricia Spahn, R.N., from Sicklervillie, N.J. — PACU - Award for Excellence in Perioperative Surgical Technology Practice:
James Moffit, from Collingswood, N.J. — Operating Room - The Lynn Nelson Memorial Award of Excellence:
Gladys Pollock, R.N., from Barrington, N.J. — Emergency Department - Excellence in Trauma Nursing Practice:
Debbie Cannon, R.N., from Beverly, N.J. — Trauma Intensive Care Unit - The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Patient Care (NON-NURSE)
Luz Mercado from Camden, N.J. — Emergency Department
The prizes and commemorative plaques were presented to each of the award winners at a formal recognition dinner on May 9th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill.