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Registered Nurses Recognized at 20th Annual Awards for Excellence in Nursing Ceremony
Type: Media Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Registered nurses to be recognized at 20th Annual Awards for Excellence in Nursing ceremony
St. John’s, NL – June 6, 2012 – The Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL) will present its Awards for Excellence in Nursing to outstanding registered nurses (RNs) at a luncheon at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s at noon today to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the provincial awards program.
Established in 1992, ARNNL’s Awards for Excellence in Nursing recognize registered nurses and nurse practitioners whose leadership and knowledge set high standards for nursing in the province. Since the program’s inception, 51 RNs have been honoured.
Award winners in 2012:
• Linda Norman-Robbins, Director, Western Regional School of Nursing, Western Health
Award for Excellence in Nursing - Administration
• Patricia Rodgers, Clinical Educator, General Hospital, Eastern Health
Award for Excellence in Nursing - Education
• Dr. Deborah Gregory, Health Policy Analyst and Clinical Assistant Professor, Eastern Health and Memorial University, Faculty of Medicine
Award for Excellence in Nursing - Research
“As we mark this significant milestone in the history of our Awards program, ARNNL congratulates these three exemplary registered nurses, and is inspired by their leadership and commitment,” said Beverly White, ARNNL’s President. “This year’s award winners join a distinguished list of registered nurses whose efforts have set a standard for nursing excellence for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Recipients of ARNNL’s Awards for Excellence in Nursing are nominated by colleagues, and are selected through a rigorous peer-review process. Pegi Earle, ARNNL’s Executive Director, said that receiving an award, or a nomination, is a special honour.
“This recognition reflects the respect members of the nursing profession have for their peers,” said Earle. “Through the Awards for Excellence in Nursing program, ARNNL is honoured to continue its tradition of helping nurses recognize the significant contributions that their colleagues make to their profession and to health care delivery in the province.”
The Awards for Excellence in Nursing luncheon will take place in advance of ARNNL’s 58th Annual Business Meeting. ARNNL’s President-Elect, Cathy Stratton, will be installed as ARNNL’s 26th president later today.
ABOUT ARNNL
ARNNL is the regulatory body and professional organization representing all 6,800 registered nurses and nurse practitioners in the province. In pursuit of its mission, ‘Nursing Excellence for the Health of the Population,’ ARNNL exists so there will be accountability for self-regulation, professionalism, quality professional practice environments, and healthy public policy.
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Media contact:
Jennifer O’Neill, Communications Officer, ARNNL
709.753.6198/709.730.3436
joneill@arnnl.ca
Backgrounder – Awards for Excellence in Nursing recipients
Linda Norman-Robbins, Director, Western Regional School of Nursing, Western Health
Award for Excellence in Nursing – Administration
Since 1987, Linda Norman-Robbins has been the Director of Western Regional School of Nursing (WRSON). Her name has been synonymous with many milestones for the school, including: preparing the school to offer the Baccalaureate degree program, obtaining Master of Nursing education on the west coast, and developing and implementing the first Nursing Access Program to address the shortage of native and local nurses in coastal Labrador. She has also been integral in creating the new two-year fast track option, and is a notable voice for the transition and integration of WRSON into the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University.
Dedicated to improving student life, Norman-Robbins’ colleagues say that she has brought the school into the 21st century with technology: smart boards, simulation mannequins, digital signage, teleconferencing equipment, and social media. Yet she remains protective of the image of nurses. It was under Linda’s administration that student uniforms were re-introduced.
Norman-Robbins is credited with advancing the research agenda at WRSON by establishing a Research Office, obtaining funding and grants, supporting faculty to attend renowned research institutes, and embracing innovative models whereby faculty balance teaching, research and scholarly activities, and committee work.
Norman-Robbins often says, “everything is possible if there is evidence to support it.” She possesses the fortitude to go up against the odds, and is a forward-thinking administrator with vision.
Patricia Rodgers, Clinical Educator, General Hospital, Eastern Health
Award for Excellence in Nursing – Education
Patricia Rodgers has been an integral member of the interdisciplinary team in the three critical care
units at the General Hospital, Eastern Health for over 30 years. She has been described as a treasure chest of knowledge, a motivator, an innovative educator, an advocate for patient safety, and a policy guru.
Rodgers is passionate about continuous learning, and that enthusiasm is contagious. Her colleagues say that she is inspired by research and welcomes new ideas. On a daily basis, she is said to stroll into the intensive care unit with a research article, a new policy, or information on an emerging trend in health care. Her teaching style and her genuine demeanor are said to leave a wonderful first impression of the General Hospital’s critical care units.
Rodgers is described as a true all-around advocate for the patient. Her colleagues say she instills in them the importance of addressing the emotional needs of the patient and family. She advocates for safe workplaces as well as funding for continuing education.
Rodgers has served on the Council of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL) three times, is a member of the Canadian and the American Associations for Critical Care Nursing and has held certification with the Canadian Nurses Association for most of her career.
Dr. Deborah Gregory, Health Policy Analyst and Clinical Assistant Professor, Eastern Health and Memorial University, Faculty of Medicine
Award for Excellence in Nursing – Research
Dr. Deborah Gregory’s outstanding passion for research, coupled with her ability to get “evidence into practice,” has helped improve the quality of health care in the province. She has conducted extensive research in such areas as: nursing work life, hemodialysis, clinical genetics, adverse health events, patient safety, and adult obesity.
Her work, along with other research team members, has culminated into 24 reports, 54 academic and stakeholder presentations, 16 abstracts, and 15 article submissions to refereed journals.
In 1995, Dr. Gregory was a member of the research team which undertook a groundbreaking ARNNL-commissioned study to validate a scale to monitor registered nurses’ perceptions of the health care reform process. This scale has been used repeatedly since then and she remains committed to this research topic as the principle investigator examining the longitudinal trends.
Dr. Gregory’s colleagues say that she is an excellent mentor for nurses and others who are pursuing programs or research, and goes “beyond the call of duty” to doctoral programs. She is never too busy to assist others in their pursuit of knowledge and professional development.
Dr. Gregory has helped raise the bar and bring to light the significant contribution registered nurses and nursing can make to quality client, system, and nursing outcomes through research.
