This year we launched the KHSC Nursing Awards of Excellence, which aims to champion nurses who have demonstrated dedication, distinction and commitment to the profession, their patients and their community.
"Creating this awards program is our way of recognizing and honoring the outstanding impact and contributions of KHSC nurses," says Jason Hann, Chief Nursing Executive at KHSC. "It's an opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on those among us who embody the very best of the profession."
To determine the winners, a panel of judges sifted through 45 glowing nominations, each one painting a picture of a nurse who demonstrates exceptional skills and knowledge and is highly regarded among their peers.
"Reading through the peer nominations really highlighted how many incredible nurses we are fortunate to work with," adds Hann. "Each of these nurses bring the KHSC mission to life when they come to work every day, and for that we are extremely grateful."
Congratulations to all nominees and award recipients. A complete list of winners follows, as well as photographs of those who were able to attend the ceremony.
Photos from the Nursing Awards of Excellence ceremony
Nursing Practice Award: Mental Health and Addictions
Karen Foster
“Karen is an essential member of the team, helping to make key decisions, develop care plans and facilitating discharge planning. Karen consistently lives the mission, vision and values of KHSC.”
Nursing Practice Award: Medicine and Neurosciences
Samantha Birchall
“Samantha has excelled professionally, demonstrating a high degree of clinical competency and sets the exemplary standard toward the level in which care should be provided.”
Nursing Practice Award: Emergency Services
Emily Murphy
"Emily is valued member of the Emergency Program for her caring, clinical expertise and ken eye for process, flow, patient care improvement opportunities. She has supported the UCC team with patient flow initiatives by assessing the processes and bringing her CTAS trainer and emergency nursing experience.”
Nursing Practice Award: Perioperative Services
Charleigh McFarlane
"Charleigh demonstrates incredible leadership in her role as a nurse educator for all her departments. She has been an incredible support to her fellow educators and has somehow found the capacity with her competing priorities to help support other departments and education initiatives while being a rock star with her current workload.”
Nursing Practice Award: Women's & Children's Program
Buffy Emmons
“Buffy approaches patient care with compassion and creativity. Buffy treats everyone with respect and promotes kind collaboration between members of the care team.”
Nursing Practice Award: Cardiac & Critical Care
Marla Turner
“Marla goes above and beyond to advocate for the patients she cares for. Anyone who knows Marla knows she is a fierce leader and teaching is at her core.”
Nursing Practice Award: Cancer & Endoscopy
Kaitlin Cormier
“Kaitlin’s unwavering dedication and outstanding leadership have been instrumental in advancing quality of care, education and professional development within our oncology department.”
Nursing Practice Award: Renal & Palliative Care
Natalie Witton
"Natalie is motivated to contribute to quality care through her critical thinking, problem-solving skills and professionalism. She simply exudes excellence.”
Nursing Practice Award: Patient Transitions & Clinical Resources
Aiden Castillo
“Aiden is one of the longest active Critical Care Repo nurses. She could go to any unit, with very limited exceptions and be able to take on a full assignment and provide leadership. She is the nursing form of Swiss army knife.”
Nursing Practice Award: Ambulatory Care
Alanna Brewer
“We could not provide the same quality of care without her. Our team depends on her organizational skills, her networking skills, and her dedication to being the best care provider she can be.”
New Graduate Nurse Award
Obianuju Odunze Ifigeagwu
"Obianuju moved from Nigeria a few years ago and had to re-educate herself. Obianuju is a dedicated, hard worker and has a strong sense of self direction. Obianuju has gained confidence, and it shows in her delivery of care. Well done, Obianuju!"
Nursing Mentorship Award
Mark McRoberts
“Mark’s strong foundation in clinical skills, positive and friendly attitude and empathetic approach ensures learner feel comfortable reaching out for help. Mark is readily available when staff Vocera and often seek out new learners to ensure they have a plan of care that aligns to leading practice.”
Nursing Education Award
Rebecca Gill
“Rebecca creates content based on leading practice and integrates engaging teaching activities to apply knowledge. The product of her work is learners who are ready to provide high quality care to patients at KHSC. Rebecca commitment to high quality education delivery is evidenced through the ongoing professional development opportunities she seeks out.”
Advanced Practice Nursing Award
Janet Obre
"Janet’s passion for the work that she does is evident through her compassionate interactions with patients, through her advocacy for patient-centered care, and through her collaboration with all members of the care team to ensure holistic care.”
Nursing Leadership Award
Tammy Darton
“Tammy is a remarkable Charge Nurse who exudes compassionate, professionalism, knowledge and leadership. Throughout our time together Tammy has demonstrated commitment to the nursing profession as she consistently incorporates patient-centered care into her practice.”
Nursing Research and Evaluation Award
Kelly McNabb
“Kelly is active in several quality improvement and program development initiatives at KHSC, as well as building new opportunities to collaborate with surrounding centers. While Kelly may be too humble to admit this, her contributions are nothing short of essential for the success of the integrated care pathway with crucial implications to heart failure care at KHSC and in the community.”
