Beebe Healthcare Nurses Win Five Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Awards

Beebe Healthcare is proud to announce that five of the seven statewide awards presented during the 2014 Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice ceremony went to Beebe nurses.

The ceremony, held September 17 in Dover, recognized nurses for their dedication to their field and to their patients. The Delaware Nurses Association and Delaware Organization of Nurse Leaders hold the annual awards celebration. Nurses from Christiana Care, Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Bayhealth Medical Center, University of Delaware, and Beebe Healthcare, were represented at the event.

The five award winners from Beebe were:

• DeVona Fields, MSN, RN, for Clinical Nurse – Inpatient

• Jennifer Hargreaves, BS, RN, for Nurse Leader/Manager

• Theresa Houston, RN, MSN, CCRN, for Nurse Educator/Staff Development

• Joyce Stambaugh, BSN, RN, CCRN, RCIS, for Outpatient/Ambulatory Care

• Lynn Toth, RN, MSN, NP-C, for Advanced Practice Nurse

Finalists included Tony Nocera, RN; David Brant, RN, BSN; Nancy Hastings, RN, IBCLC; Nancy Forsyth, MSN, RN, NNP-BC; Kris Kemper, RN, BSN, BS; Karen Savidge, RN, BSN; Corey Ann Kennedy, RN, BSN, MPA; Kim Ennis, RN; Lisa Henderson, RN, OCN; Patricia Houston, RN, MPH, M.Ed., CBN; Steve Rhone, Vice President of Patient Care Services, RN, BSN, MS, NE-BC; Megan Williams, DNP, BA, FNP-COPC; Loretta Ostroski, MSN, RN; Virginia Rickards, MEd, BSN, RN, CCRN; Terri Wyatt, MSN, RNC-LRN, CPLC, GC-C, CNE; and Stephan Betins-Kinnamon, MSed, RN, CNOR.

DeVona Fields has been dedicated to hospital nursing care for 15 years. She continued her education while working and raising a family, eventually achieving a Master of Science degree in Nursing. Ms. Fields is described as a great team motivator. When a project needs to be completed, it is Ms. Fields who often steps forward to get it done. She is the clinical leader for her unit, co-chairperson of the Beebe’s Global Council, chairwoman of the Clinical Decision Units Operations Council and a member of both the Delaware Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association. She is also a nursing instructor at Delaware Technical Community College.

Jennifer Hargreaves is a true education cheerleader. She is the manager for Beebe’s clinical education department and is always ready to help any team member. Ms. Hargreaves fosters collaboration, explains roles clearly, solves problems, and guides team members. She is also an amazing resource for students, having supported many programs, including the nurse externship and internship programs. She networks with many state policymakers and legislators, and makes it a priority to align Beebe with new patient care and safety standards. She is the President-Elect for the Delaware Organization of Nurse Leaders and provides guidance for elected officials so they can make informed decisions when it comes to healthcare policy.

Theresa Houston, a critical care nurse educator, showcases her leadership abilities by bringing best practices and current processes to all discussions and projects. When a new piece of equipment was installed, she lead the collaboration with the lead physician assistant to help develop a teaching module. Ms. Houston ensured all team members had consistent information and was deployed to hospital locations to help other team members navigate the new system. She is a leader, a strong resource, and is always generous in her knowledge and time. She mentors team members who are seeking higher education and is quick to promote professional development via continuing education credits. Ms. Houston has more than 20 years of nursing experience, including critical care nursing management, infection prevention, and most recently, clinical education. She serves as Chair of Nursing Global Council and has been involved in several hospital and nursing initiatives at Beebe.

As a nurse in the cardiac and vascular services department, Joyce Stambaugh exhibits her knowledge, experience, and technical skills on a regular basis. Ms. Stambaugh demonstrates a vast knowledge, and is able to effectively combine her critical care skills with her understanding of anatomy, physiology, arrhythmias, hemodynamics, cardiac pharmacology, and lab technology. She helped during the transition to an electronic medical record, serving as a mentor for others learning the new system. Her ability to solve problems and effectively manage complex situations is something Beebe team members rely on every day.

Lynn Toth is a cardiovascular nurse specialist at Beebe. She serves as the Stroke and Heart Failure Coordinator and has developed numerous education programs and materials for patients, nurses, and medical staff. Ms. Toth helps improve the effectiveness of care by providing services to those who could benefit from them. She is respectful of and responsive to individual patient needs, values, and economic status. Ms. Toth has lobbied Delaware Legislature to remove trans-fats from school lunches. She also lobbied Congress for the past three years to help improve cardiovascular health for Delawareans. In 2012, she was chosen to participate in the White House Community Leaders Briefing Series to discuss the importance of the consistence of stroke care coverage throughout the country. In addition, she has volunteered for the annual Asthma Camp and with Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.

“I want to congratulate those members of our nursing staff who were nominated for statewide awards, and especially those who won statewide awards,” said Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, President and CEO, Beebe Healthcare. “Out of the seven awards, Beebe nurses won five awards, which is the most our nurses have ever won at this event. There is no greater reward than to be recognized by your peers, and all of us at Beebe are proud of each nominee.”

An electronic version of this release is available at: http://www.beebehealthcare.org/news/awards-accreditations-accolades/beebe-healthcare-nurses-win-five-delaware-excellence-nursing

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer center, and outpatient facilities at multiple sites providing walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehab services. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebehealthcare.org.