2009 Nurse Excellence Award Winners

Published: Thursday, May 7, 2009

As part of the 2009 National Nurses Week celebration (May 6-12), The University of Tennessee Medical Center named 17 of its outstanding nurses who serve as examples of the top leaders and exceptional professional nurses in our organization. These 2009 Nurse Excellence Award winners will represent UT Medical Center at the Regional Cooperative for Professional Nurses Week Nurse Excellence Awards Banquet held at the Convention Center.

“It is an honor when your colleagues evaluate your body of work and decide that you are a recognized leader in your profession,” said Janell Cecil, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at UT Medical Center. “It takes a truly skilled, compassionate and hard working professional individual to stand out and be recognized for this type of an award. These nurses consistently provide outstanding care to our patients and they are very deserving of the 2009 Nurse Excellence award.”

The nurses were nominated by their peers and selected by the Nursing Recognition Committee based on their dedication, exceptional clinical practice and distinguished contributions to the nursing profession.

The skilled, compassionate and hard working award winners were nominated because their outstanding patient care and dedication stood out to their peers. The Nurse Management Award went to Loretta Smithers, ADN, RN, CDN, in Hemodialysis Unit. The Nurse Educator Award went to Chris West, ADN, RN, CNOR, in the Operating Room. The Nurse Novice Award went to Julia Ferguson, BSN, RN, in Medical Critical Care.

Other UT Medical Center 2009 Nurse Excellence Award winners include Randy Booth, BSN, RN, CNOR, Operating Room;Teresa Burns, RN, Medical Nephrology; Vicky Coulter, BSN, RN, 3 South; Jackie Herber, RN, CCRN, Medical Critical Care; Tina Kelley, ADN, RNC, Endoscopy; Linda Margeson, ADN, RN, Emergency Department; Sharon Pressley, ADN, RN, CNOR, Peri-Operative Unit; Tony Reso, BSN, RN, Medical Critical Care; Julie Rairigh-Wolfenbarger, BSN, RN, Neuro/Stroke Unit; Kathleen Schroeder, ADN, RN, RNC-MNN, Mother/Baby Unit; Chad Sims, ADN, RN, CFRN, LIFESTAR; Angela Smith, ADN, RN, BC, Surgical Critical Care; Emma Taylor, BSN, RN, Medical Critical Care; and Angela Wimsatt, ADN, RN, Ortho/Neuro Unit.

Congratulations to all of the award winners for their professional achievements!