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MASSACHUSETTS NURSE NEWSLETTER ::
November/December 2007
Annual MNA awards honor the best in nursing
Image of the Professional Nurse
Award
This award recognizes a member who has
demonstrated outstanding leadership in
enhancing the image of the professional
nurse in the community.
- Yvonne Koelsch-Brown, RN, is a veteran
nurse who serves as a patient advocate
and exemplary role model. In her role in
the post-operative setting at the Faulkner
Hospital, Yvonne witnesses firsthand the
impact of breast cancer on her patients and
the community.
- Lynne Starbard is a nurse whose
influence and leadership has impacted
her nursing community at University of
Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center,
where she has been an advocate for nursing
safety and fair practice, effective clinician,
mentor to new and experienced nurses,
and a highly effective co-chair of her bargaining
unit.
Judith-Shindul Rothschild
Leadership Award
This award recognizes an MNA member
who speaks with a strong voice for the
nursing community at the state and/or
national level.
- Mentor, friend, tireless advocate for
patients, for nurses, for the elderly, for
citizens and all humanity, there are not
enough ways to describe the contributions
Jeannine Williams has made to advance
the health and well being of us all. She
has been instrumental in bringing Central
Massachusetts to the forefront in the
labor and legislative arenas, has mentored
numerous active members of Unit 7 at
Westboro State Hospital and was instrumental
in bringing in the MNA for the
state when Unit 7 was created and served as
chair and secretary until her retirement.
Nursing Education Award
Continuing Ed/Staff Development
This award recognizes a member who is a
nurse educator and who has made significant
contributions to professional nursing
education/continuing education or staff
development.
- Suzanne Carchedi, nurse educator for
the emergency department at Jordan Hospital
brings many years of experience and
dedication to her role. She has been instrumental
in nurturing and educating nurses
new to the Emergency Department, while
guiding more experienced staff through
changes and standards in patient care.
Kathryn McGinn Cutler for
Health and Safety Award
This award recognizes an individual or
group that has performed outstanding
service for the betterment of health and
safety for the protection of nurses and
other health care workers.
- Mary Denise Glidden, with more than
40 years at the Providence Behavioral
Health Hospital, has served tirelessly and
consistently as an unwavering voice for
nursing, especially in the area of health
and safety.
- Rosemary O’Brien, chair of the MNA
Workplace Violence and Abuse Prevention
Task Force, has been at the forefront
of the movement to recognize and prevent
workplace violence.Under her strong, tireless,
and insightful leadership, the taskforce
undertook the daunting task to develop and
counter such pejorative concepts that workplace
violence is just “a part of the job.”
- Elizabeth O’Connor is an MNA activist
and powerful advocate for the health
and safety of nurses and their co-workers.
She has been influential in nearly eliminating
latex gloves in the nursing units at
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and has
played a significant role in moving the
facility towards a needleless system. She
is chair of the MNA Congress on Health
and Safety.
Human Needs Service Award
This award recognizes an individual who
has performed outstanding services based
on human need, with respect for human
dignity, unrestricted by consideration of
nationality, race, creed, color or status.
- Roberta Gately, a nurse in the infectious
disease department at Boston Medical
Center, provides care to HIV infected
and affected children as well as medically
fragile infants and children in therapeutic
daycare/afterschool programs.
- Carol Armstrong demonstrates excellence
in nursing practice daily as the
clinical coordinator of Jordan Hospital’s
Emergency Room where she readily accepts
and expertly manages the challenges of the
emergency room setting.
- Traci A. Mather, an emergency department
nurse at Beverly Hospital, serves as
preceptor for new employees. Because of her
clinical expertise and philosophy of teaching
and mentoring skills, Traci helps to
develop well-guided and skilled nurses who
are able to practice competently in their role
and maintain a high standard of care.
Advocate for Nursing Award
This award recognizes the contributions of
an individual, who is not a nurse, to nurses
and the nursing profession.
- Rep. Martin Walsh has been a strong
advocate for patients and nurses throughout
Massachusetts. Walsh has advocated
for patients and nursing bills and has been
a committed supporter of the Safe Staffing
Bill, not only to his colleagues in the
Legislature, but also the media.
Elaine Cooney Labor Relations
Award
This award recognizes a Labor Relations
Program member who has made
a significant contribution to the professional,
economic and general welfare of
nursing.
- Mary Burgoyne was instrumental
in securing the union at Caritas Norwood
Hospital after two unsuccessful
attempts. Her efforts continued to make
the union work by tirelessly helping
nurses to truly understand their rights
and how the union could help them and
their patients.
- Joanne Caloon, RN, has long been an
active member of the Baystate Franklin
Medical Center (BFMC) bargaining unit.
She has served as senior chair, junior
chair, unit representative, vice chair of
the bargaining unit, and coordinator
of the Legislative Action Committee in
addition to serving as a contract negotiations
team member for numerous
years.
- Cheryl Cochran actively pursues the
advancement of the professional nurse
and fights tirelessly to uphold their contract
at Cape Cod Hospital . Cheryl’s
understanding of the collective bargaining
contract and leadership skills are an
asset to the bargaining unit as is her
unique ability to provide strength and
counsel to her peers on union issues.
- Peter Lancette has been a strong
advocate and source of inspiration and
support for his fellow nurses at the University
of Massachusetts Medical Center
University Campus. During a very bitter
and tumultuous time, Peter showed great
courage and commitment to a fair work
environment when he reassured his colleagues
of the decision to strike.
- Marie Ritacco has been an active
member of the MNA bargaining unit at
St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester for
many years. As co-chair of the negotiation
team, she exerted a strong leadership
role in supporting nursing steps during
15 months of contract negotiations,
enabling the achievement of staffing
improvements in the contract.
- Richard James Spezzaferro has been a strong advocate and source
of inspiration and support for his fellow nurses at the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center University Campus. During a very bitter
and tumultuous time, Richard showed great courage and an abiding
commitment to achieve a fair work environment as he reassured and
affirmed his colleagues in the decision to strike.
- Susan Wright Thomas has been an active and inf luential member of
the MNA bargaining unit at the Cambridge Hospital where she serves
as secretary and is a valued member of the negotiation team. Her consistent
supportive and enthusiastic efforts to improve the nursing work
atmosphere and in addressing union issues is valued by her nurse colleagues.
Freshman Legislator,
Special Recognition for Legislative Advocacy
- Rep. James O’Day, 14th Worcester District
and Rep. Geraldo Alicea, 6th Worcester District: The two legislators honored with the Freshman Legislator Award were
dedicated to the cause of Safe Staffing even before they were elected to
office. They committed to safe staffing during their campaigns and
have demonstrated initiative and leadership from before their first
day in elected office. We appreciate the assistance they’ve rendered to
MNA bargaining units and their commitment to quality patient care.
We applaud the legislators honored for their leadership and dedication
to patients and nurses throughout the commonwealth.
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From
left, Andrea Fox, Diane Michael,
Denny Glidden and Evie Bain. |
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From
left, MNA Vice President Donna Kelly Williams, Rep. Martin Walsh,
Rep. Geraldo Alicea, Rep. James O'Day and MNA President Beth
Piknick. |
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