Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center honors exceptional nurses at awards dinner

More than 600 nurses from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center were honored for outstanding patient care and professional achievements at the 14th annual Nursing Recognition Dinner on Sept. 6 at the Hotel Hershey.

“A Celebration of Love, Hope and Joy” recognized nurses for earning new academic degrees and professional certifications and achieving new levels in the Professional Clinical Ladder program. Attendees were also honored for professional and leadership activities, podium and poster presentations, research and scholarly projects.

Seventeen nurses were recognized for their leadership and support of Penn State Health’s transition to CareConnect.

The following nurses earned Distinguished Awards in the past year:

• Sasha-Marie Baez, LPN, CL III, St. Joseph Medical Group: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ― RN
• Melinda Bear, BSN, RN, CEN, CN IV, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award
• Julie Becker, MSN, RN-BC, RNC: Nursing Education and Professional Development Women’s Health: Recognition for New Knowledge and Innovations
• Carol Berman, BSN, RN, CPN, CN IV: Pediatric Oncology DAISY Award, January 2018
• Jessica Buffenmeyer, BSN, RN-BC, CN IV, 6 Acute Care: Excellence In Nursing Education
• Cynthia Campbell Baird, RN, OCN, CCRC, Hematology Oncology: CURE Magazine Nomination for Bone Health Champions Recognition Event in Washington, DC
• Jennifer Dallago, BSN, RN, CCRN, CN IV, Neuroscience Critical Care: Unit DASIY Award, February 2018
• Leandra Davis, BSN, RN-BC, CPN, 6 Acute Care: Excellence In Nursing Education
• Judy Dillon, MSN, MA, RN, Nursing Administration: 2018 Penn State Hershey Commission for Women – Woman to Watch
• April Doster, BSN, RN, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: DAISY Award, October 2017
• Emma Enders, MSN, RN, PCCN, Heart and Vascular Progressive Care: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒ MSN
• Kathy Espenshade, MSN, RNC, IBCLC, Medical Group-Palmyra Nursing Leadership, Clinical Nurse: Bethany Foran, BSN, RN, Medical-Surgical Float Pool DAISY Award, July 2017
• Tara Gehman, LPN, CL III, Medical Group-Fishburn Road LPN: Excellence in Clinical Practice Award
• Diane Graham, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Nutrition Services
• Medical Group Practice Site: Dean’s List Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction
• Alexandria Gustin, BSN, RNC, CN IV, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:
• Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒MSN
• Jenna Hill, RN, OCN, Cancer Institute-Inpatient Unit: Jay C. Graff Oncology Nursing Excellence Award
• Ashlee Homer, BSN, RN, CPN, CN III, Pediatric Acute: Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award
• Emily Hull, BSN, RN, OCN, CN IV, Cancer Institute-Inpatient Unit: Jay C. Graff Oncology Nursing Excellence Award
• Kristin Jens, BSN, RN, CEN, Emergency Department: Excellence in Emergency Department Nursing
• Sarah Jones, BSN, RN, CPN, CN III, Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit: DAISY Award, December 2017
• Catherine Kagema, BSN, RN, Medical Intermediate Care Unit: Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award
• Mary Lou Kanaskie, PhD, RN-BC, AOCN, Nursing Education and Professional Development: Nursing Research and Clinical Scholarship Publication
• Jeffrey Kelchner, ASN, RN, 5 Acute Care: DAISY Award, May 2018
• Jung Soo Kim, MSN, RN, OCN, Cancer Institute-Inpatient Unit: Lawrence F. Kienle, MD Nursing Humanitarian Award
• Debra Klein, ASN, RN-BC, CN IV, 6 Acute Care: Jeanne Donlevy Arnold Nursing Award
• Stacey LaPine, BSN, RN, EECP, Heart and Vascular Nyes Road: Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award
• Medical Group Ambulatory Care: Exemplary Professional Practice
• Nancy Lokey, ASN, RN, CBIS, CRRN, Physical Medicine and Rehab: Rebecca Hammond Nursing Scholarship-ASCIP, Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals
• Hillary Lowe, BSN, RN-BC, CN IV, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒ MSN
• Cindy Lutz, BSN, RN, CNOR, CN IV, Operating Room: DAISY Award, April 2018
• Lee Lynn, BSN, RN, Nursing Education and Professional Development: poster received top 10 percent award in the Clinical Improvement/Innovation Category at AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo
• Irene McKee, MSN, RN-BC, CN IV, Image-Guided Patient Care Unit: Excellence in Procedural Nursing
• Kathy Morrison, MSN, RN, CNRN, SCRN, Stroke Program: Women of Excellence Award
• Mary Muller, BSN, RN, CNOR, CN IV, Operating Room Perioperative Nursing: Exemplary Professional Practice
• Melissa Oosting, ASN, RN-BC, 6 Acute Care: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒ BSN
• Gail Ortenzi, BSN, RN, CCM, Quality Informatics: American College of Surgeons “Meritorious Award” for outcomes in the top 10 percent of all hospitals in Adult National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
• Janet Passley-Clarke, DNP, MSN, RN, CRNP, PMH-BC, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute- Inpatient: Linda Pugh Outstanding Clinical Scholarship, York College of Pennsylvania
• Katie Pennay, MS, BSN, RN, OCN, CN IV, Cancer Institute-Inpatient Unit: Leon “Lee” McKenzie Exemplary Professional Practice Recognition
• Elisha Peregino, MSN, RN, CRNP, Neurosurgery: 2017 Advanced Practice Clinicians Excellence Award
• Annabella Reid, ASN, RN, 5 Acute Care: DAISY Award, March 2018
• Kelly Rittle, RN, PCCN, CN IV, Heart and Vascular Progressive Care: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒ BSN
• Elizabeth Robinson, BSN, RN, CEN, CN III, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award
• Brianne Ronaldo, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CN IV, 5 Acute Care: Excellence In Adult Acute Care Nursing
• Sarah Rummel, BSN, RN, CN III, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Clinical Ladder III ‒ Paula Ribando Award
• Elizabeth Schaeffer, BSN, RN, CCRN, CN IV, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒ MSN
• Sarah Sheetz, BSN, RN, OCN, Clinical Nurse Coordinators: RN Preceptor Award
• Anup Sidhu, ASN, RN, Observation Unit: DAISY Award, June 2018
• Cindi Snyder, MS, BSN, RN, Pediatric Endocrinology: Nursing Research and Clinical Scholarship, Publication
• Lara Sowers, BSN, RN, CPN, IV, Children’s Hospital Peri-Anesthesia: Nursing Community Service Award
• Heather Stephens, BSN, RNC, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Ian and Eileen Zagon Nursing Excellence Award
• Amanda Stout, BSN, RN, CPN, CN IV, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Clinical Ladder IV ‒ Paula Ribando Award
• Samantha Tew, BSN, RN, CCRN, CN IV, Heart and Vascular Critical Care Unit: Excellence in Adult Critical Care Nursing
• Jackie Thoryk, MSN, RN, CRNP, APRN-BC, Pulmonary Medicine: DASIY Award, August 2017
• Emily Vance, BSN, RN, CCRN, CN IV, Medical-Surgical Float Pool: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒MSN
• Jen Waite, Medical Group-Pediatrics Specialties Clinic: DAISY Award, September 2017
• Krista Williamson, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CNML, 5 Acute Care: Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award ‒MSN

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