Plaudits abound during National Nurses Week

Published on Monday, May 13, 2024

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

Medical Center faculty and staff often are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their academic or medical achievements. These accolades place UMMC among health science centers worldwide.

Awards celebrate exceptional UMMC nurses and interprofessional colleagues

Faculty and staff who excel in nursing care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center were recognized last week during the annual Nursing All-Star and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony.

The observance, sponsored by the Office of Nursing Excellence, falls each year during National Nurses Week, which always ends on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birthday.

“Nurses Week is a sacred time of the year as it is celebrated across the country to thank more than five million registered nurses in the U.S.,” said Dr. Adrienne Murray, director of the Office of Nursing Excellence at UMMC.
“Nurses who, despite experiencing the most intense extremes of human existence, continue to dedicate their lives to providing holistic, compassionate care with dignity and respect to anyone in need. On a daily basis, nurses are in touch with pain, sorrow, joy, life and death.

“There is a light that only nurses can bring during the darkest of times.”

The three awards categories are All-Star, Hall of Fame and Friend of Nursing.

In general, nurses who perform direct care and indirect care are eligible, as are advanced practice nurses and nurses in ambulatory, research, and academic settings.

Nominees are scored on, among many other criteria, teamwork, contributions to patient care, problem solving, focus on safety, patient advocacy, positive attitude, work ethic and professionalism.

All-Star nominees, which numbered 15 this year, have been a UMMC nurse for at least one year.

Hall of Fame candidates – there were 10 this year – have been a UMMC nurse for at least 10 years.

The Friend of Nursing Award, just in its second year, honors a non-nursing individual or department for actively supporting, promoting and collaborating with nursing. In all, there were 13 individuals nominated this year, along with Child Life Services at Children’s of Mississippi, including 10 child life specialists.

“We have the Friend of Nursing Award because nursing is truly a team sport,” Murray said. “We couldn’t do what we do or be who we are without all the members of the care team. Not only do they support us, but they also make us better nurses. It’s just so hard to pick one winner.”

Hall of Fame Award

• Winners: Dr. Victoria Gholar, assistant professor of population health science, assistant dean of student affairs in the John D. Bower School of Population Health, and executive director of the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities; Sarah Gilbert, RN care coordinator, Division of Plastic Surgery; Troy Pearson, inpatient RN, MICU; Wesley Smith, director of nursing, Children’s Hospital Services, PICU and Pediatric Emergency Services; Laura Watrous, RN educator, Adult Emergency Department; Jason Zimmerman, Chief Nursing Officer, Adult Hospitals.

All-Star Award

• Winners: Athalia Bolden, nurse manager, 3 South; Bentley Harrison, nurse educator, Wiser Hospital; Ashley Lawrence, shift supervisor, Adult Emergency Department; Dr. Bethany Robinette, nurse practitioner, pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics; Caroline Rocray, inpatient RN, PICU; John Yu, inpatient RN, MICU.

Friend of Nursing Award

• Winner: Charles Patton, respiratory therapist, University Hospital

Children’s Emergency Department collects DAISY Team Award

Children’s of Mississippi’s Emergency Department is the winner of a DAISY Team Award, honoring the collaboration of a nurse-led team to enhance patient outcomes.

The award was “presented in deep appreciation for all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference your teamwork makes in the lives of so many people,” according to the plaque’s inscription.

“As the Children’s ED nurse manager, I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible team for winning the DAISY Team Award,” said Kesha Prystupa, nurse manager of the Children’s Emergency Department.

“Their dedication, compassion and teamwork truly embody the spirit of nursing excellence. This recognition is a testament of their hard work and unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care to our patients and families every day. Congratulations to each and every member of our outstanding team.”

DAISY, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, honors nursing through The DAISY Foundation, which was founded in memory of Patrick Barnes, a patient in Washington state whose family experienced exceptional nursing during his care. DAISY Team Awards are presented during National Nurses Week.