Cooper University Hospital is proud to recognize 16 nurses and other members of the healthcare delivery team 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 2012 Nurse of the Year Award has been given to Rebecca Johnson, R.N., B.S.N, staff nurse in Cooper’s Emergency Department. Johnson, of Philadelphia, has been a part of the Cooper family for 5 years. She attended Drexel University’s 5-year co-op program and came to Cooper as a nursing extern in 2006. As an ER nurse, Johnson is responsible for managing critically ill and injured patients. The role of an ER nurse changes daily and sometimes includes triage, bedside patient care, managing the “flow” of the department, taking care of routine fast track patients as well as attending to Cooper’s pediatric population.
“This award means so much to me. I feel so flattered that I was chosen out of so many great nurses in the ER, and throughout the hospital,” said Johnson. “It is recognitions like this that allows one to realize that their hard work is paying off and drives one to continue to excel in delivering excellent patient care for our patients at Cooper.”
Cooper’s 2012 Winners and Awards are as followed:
• The UC/CADV Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing Practice: Anthony Curcio, R.N., B.S.N., BS, from Deptford, N.J.—Coronary Care Unit
• The Selma & Martin Hirsch Clinical Excellence Award: Susan Breslin, B.S.N., R.N., O.C.N., from Audubon, N.J.—Hem./Onc.
• Cooper Nursing Alumni Clinical Nurse Excellence Award: Rebecca Johnson, R.N., B.S.N., from Fishtown, P.A.—Emergency Department
• Carol Tracy Compassion Award: Norma Rowello, R.N.-B.C., O.C.N., from Bellmawr, N.J.—Med/Surg Oncology
• John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Neonatal Nursing: Diane Wachter, R.N.C., B.S.N., from Delran, N.J.—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Nurse Leadership: Jeanne Greer, R.N., C.G.R.N., from Moorestown, N.J.—Digestive Health
• The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Award for Nurse Mentorship: Cynthia Garretson, R.N., B.S.N., C.B.C., from Audubon, N.J.—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Excellence Award for Nurse Research: Deborah Schoch, R.N.C., Ph.D. (Candidate), I.B.C.L.C., C.C.E., C.P.S.T., from Audubon, N.J.—Mother Infant Unit
• The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing: Jennifer Stanger
• Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Pediatric Nursing: Michelle Doyle, R.N., B.S.N., C.P.N., from Lester, P.A.—Pediatrics
• The Ruth Parry Memorial Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Practice: Ann Audio, R.N., C.C.R.N., from Washington Township—Critical Care
• The Sue Zamitis and Rose Smith Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing: Zophia Kapron, R.N.
• The Lynn Nelson Memorial Award of Excellence: Timothy Kane, R.N., R.R.T., from Stratford, N.J.—Emergency Department
• Excellence in Trauma Nursing Practice: Donna Hartzell—Trauma
• The Women’s Board Award for Excellence in Outpatient Nursing Practice: Doreen Desimone, R.N., from Somerdale, N.J.—Same Day Surgery
• The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Patient Care (NON-NURSE): Frances Thomas, from Camden, N.J.—Unit Secretary N8/S8-Patient Care Unit
• Excellence in Critical Care Nursing: Adisa Kljuco, R.N., B.S.N., from Cherry Hill, N.J.—Intensive Care