Nursing Accolades

The DAISY Award Program

Nemours is proud to be a new hospital partner of the Daisy Foundation. The Daisy Foundation Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes the super-human work nurses do every day all over the country. Each month award recipients are chosen by their nurse administrators, peers, physicians, patients and families. We look forward to initiating a web-based program to allow patients and families to easily nominate their nurses for this award.

• Roxanne Boucher, RN, from 3F was recognized Nemours first DAISY nurse. The founders of the DAISY award, Bonnie and Mark Barnes attended the recognition ceremony along with an executive from United Healthcare.
  
• Jeanine Martin, BSN, RN, CCRN, from the PICU was recognized as Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s second DAISY nurse
• Valerie Rigby, RN, from 3C North was recognized as Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s third DAISY nurse.
• Mallory Kulesza, BSN, RN from 2A was recognized as Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s third DAISY nurse.
• Meg Hartman, BSN, RN, CPN, Surgical Liaison, was recognized as the first DAISY Nurse of 2012.

Nemours celebrated three 2010 statewide Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice award winners:

New Nurse Category

Megan Carville is a new nurse graduate on the pediatric Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant unit at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. In her very first year of professional nursing practice she has distinguished herself as an outstanding clinical nurse and a compassionate caregiver of children and families who undergo treatment for cancer. Her initiative and professionalism define her as an emerging nurse leader. She is truly a remarkable new nurse graduate and she has made an indelible mark within our nursing team.

Advanced Practice Nursing

Dyane Bunnell exemplifies excellence in every aspect of her role as the Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. She has spent her career devoted to caring for children with complex med-surg and oncology/hematology conditions often requiring critical care interventions. Dyane holds herself and her colleagues to a very high standard of practice because she understands the consequences of anything less. She is dedicated to ensuring the pediatric hematology oncology nurses at duPont Hospita for Childrenl are certified and have the professional development they need to provide the very best nursing care. Through her work and commitment to excellence Dyane Bunnell has reignited the Hematalogy/Oncology nursing team’s passion for excellence.

Acute Care

Tina Keane, BSN, RNC-NIC is a nurse clinician level 4 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. She is most worthy of this recognition because she represents the very best of the profession of nursing. She is an exemplary practitioner who upholds the highest ethical and clinical standards. Practicing nursing with Tina makes everyone a better nurse. She is a strong advocate for her patients and their families and is routinely recognized by families and during family rounding for providing excellent care. Tina always seeks the evidence and the best way to practice, reading journals, & sharing new information with her peers. Tina holds the bar high thereby creating an environment of excellence. She is truly and exceptional nurse.

Molly Hampshire, RN, CICU

• "Loving Heart Award" from a Philadelphia chapter of the Children's Heart Foundation

Mary Newman, RN, CPON

• National Nurse of the Year, Gannett Healthcare Group, 2007
• Recipient of the Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Award for Acute Care, 2007
• Nurse of the Year, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 2006

In 2007 Mary Newman, Direct Care Nurse on 3A/Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, was selected as Gannett Healthcare’s Nursing Spectrum's National Nurse of the Year in the category of Clinical Care. This was a significant award for Mary and also a very important moment for the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and the entire Nemours Foundation. Her recognition – nationally as well as locally - speaks volumes about the quality of nursing care we deliver each and every day to our patients and their families.

Thomas Kopec, BSN

• RN Nurse of the Year
  
• Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 2007 

In 2007, Thomas Kopec, clinical nurse educator and the hospital’s wound care specialist, was named Nurse of the Year at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.  Kopec has been instrumental in the success of every major technology rollout, first as an early adaptor and then as teacher and supporter for the rest of the staff. Through his “can-do” attitude, calm teaching approach, effective communication skills, and approachability he has gained both trust and respect of his colleagues.

Mary Sawin, BSN, RN, CPON

• Regional Winner, Clinical Care, Gannett Healthcare Group, 2008

Ruth Lebet, MSN, RN, CCNS

• Nurse of the Year, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 2008

Ruth Lebet, a clinical nurse specialist in the pediatric ICU, accepted the Marie L. Des Barres Nurse of the Year Award in 2008. The award is named for the first nursing superintendent of the Alfred I. duPont Institute.

Vilma Davis, MSN, RN

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence, 2009

Vilma Davis received this prestigious state award, founded in 1991, in recognition of her excellence in practice at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

Rebecca Schorn, BSN, RN 

• Regional Winner, Clinical Care, Gannett Healthcare Group, 2009

Louanne A. Stratton, PhD, RN, Chief Nurse Executive

• Recipient of the Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Award for Nursing Leadership, 2009

Louanne Stratton has been recognized for superbly navigating every function of the nursing leadership role. She is truly a transformational leader: positive and approachable, and yet always holding the highest possible standards for nurses and nursing practice.

Walle Adams-Gerdts, RN, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner

• Recipient of the Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Award for Acute Care, 2009

Walle Adams-Gerdts, a nurse in the Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, received this award for her unwavering concern for the patients. In addition to be an outstanding direct care nurse, she changed the culture of at Nemours by introducing and implementing Healing Touch as an integrative modality to improve patient care. 

Bette Bayley, PhD, RN, Director of Nursing Research

• Recipient of the Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Award for Nursing Education, 2009

Bette Bayley received this award for her superb mentorship of nurses who want to explore a clinical question through research. Bette is also working to help the entire nursing department embrace evidence-based practice. Bette has a long list of publications and presentations on her resume but her legacy will be left in those she has mentored and who now continue to contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.