“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give,” said Sir Winston Churchill. This quote was used by North Fulton Regional Hospital this National Nurses Week and National Hospital and Healthcare Week, May 6-12, to recognize the many ways that nurses and other health care workers make a difference in the lives they touch each day.

    Throughout the week of May 6-12, employees of North Fulton Regional Hospital celebrated National Nurses Week and National Healthcare Week. Festivities included trivia games, raffles, a special nursing staff breakfast, a presentation on Health and Humor and a Nursing Excellence Ceremony.

    Many nurses and support staff gained recognition at the Nursing Excellence Ceremony
for their unwavering dedication and devotion to their roles at North Fulton Regional Hospital.

    Chosen to be Clinical Support Staff Member of the Year for 2007 is Blondine Bryant, a HUC for the Med/Telemetry Department. Blondine’s peers have many kind words to say about her, including, “As a role model she has a very positive attitude. Blondine is always pleasant, professional and hard-working.”

    Other deserving nominees for the 2007 Clinical Support Staff Member of the year are:

• Bettye Ligon, HUC/Patient Care Technician for CCU/ICU
  “She is a great role model for her great attitude and willingness to be a team player.”
• Vernon Stuckey, Patient Care Technician for Med/Telemetry
  “Vernon is an excellent co-worker, always smiling. He is a good role model for co-workers”
• Andrew Osouna, HUC for Surgical
  ”He has a good attitude, is friendly to staff and is always willing to help.”
• Luz Uribe, Patient Care Technician for Rehab Nursing
  “She always has time to go that extra mile in providing care for patients whether they are assigned to her or not.”
• Sandra Chacon, HUC for Med/Telemetry
  “Sandra always has a smile on her face no matter how busy or chaotic things are getting on the floor.”
• Sharon Johnson, Patient Care Technician for Med/Telemetry
  “Sharon is a good team worker and always helps others if needed.”
• Debbie McElreath, Patient Care Technician for Med/Telemetry
  “Debbie gives importance not only to patients but co-workers as well.”
• Linda Nash, HUC, Rehab Nursing
  “Linda is kind and compassionate. She performs her duties as a secretary seriously.”
• Rick Stevens, Patient Care Technician, ER
  “Rick has a great attitude…He exemplifies what quality and excellence are in a person.”

    Chosen for 2007 Nurse of the Year is Ronda Howard, a registered nurse for the Med/Telemetry Department.  “Ronda has a wonderful, warm personality and easy bedside manner that can make the most fearful patient feel comforted,” her peers said.  “The special thing about Ronda is that she checks on her staff as well as her patients.”  These qualities coupled with Ronda’s true abilities and honed nursing skills helped her to earn the designation of Nurse of the Year.

    The other ten nominees for 2007 Nurse of the Year are:

• Joanne Cafiero Adams, CCU/ICU
  “Joanne has excellent rapport with patients and families. She always has a positive attitude, even when busy.”
• Shantrice Givens, Neuro ICU
  “Shantrice pays attention to her patients’ needs. She always assesses the needs of other nurses and helps without being asked.”
• Kristen Greene, Med/Telemetry
  “Kristen always knows what to say at the right time. She is a leader, a role model and a team player.”
• Claudean Henry, Med/Telemetry
  “She’s caring, attentive and helpful. Claudean is a team player and a caring nurse.”
• Diane Lamp, ER
  “Diane gives above and beyond to make sure her patients are happy, pain free and well taken care of.”
• Mary Malia, Med/Telemetry
  “Mary demonstrates passion for her work. She takes time to make sure her patients are comfortable, even family members.”
• Barbara Neasham, OPSU
  “Barbara is always caring, kind and empathetic. She communicates effectively with the patients and families.”
• Patrice Pniewski, Neuro ICU
  “She is always positive and very much a patient advocate. Patrice has a high degree of professionalism displayed at work.”
• Lise Voorhis, PACU/OPSU
  “Lise has a calming effect on her patients with excellent teaching skills. She has a very caring attitude with patients and families.”
• Alicia Tollison, Rehab Nursing
  “Alicia is kind, funny and very competent. She takes ownership and helps keep the unit organized when working.”

    Employees of the hospital concluded the celebratory week with a Hospital Picnic, complete with give-aways, pictures, music and barbeque. Every staff member was encouraged to take time out of their Friday to enjoy some much deserved downtime away from their respective departments, and many seized the opportunity for some fun and good food.

    North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 167-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

    To learn more about North Fulton Regional Hospital and its efforts in the community, visit www.northfultonregional.com or call us at 770-751-2500.