LUTHERAN HEALTHCARE HONORS NURSES FOR NURSING WEEK
Friday, May 14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LUTHERAN HEALTHCARE HONORS NURSES FOR NURSING WEEK
Launches new Dhanpat Spirit of Caring Award
May 14, 2010, Brooklyn, NY…Lutheran HealthCare's Department of Nursing kicked-off Nursing Week with a special awards ceremony to recognize the continuing hard work, dedication and compassion the Lutheran team exhibits. Lutheran also celebrated Nursing Week with daily events, presentations, guest speakers, a blessing of the hands ceremony, give-aways and much more.
Lutheran's highest nursing honor, the Maakestad Award, is presented each year to a distinguished nurse leader who, like Martha Maakestad, has excelled beyond all expectations. Martha was a Lutheran Medical Center nurse leader for 35 years until her retirement in 2004. As the chief nursing administrator for 28 of those years, she led the nursing department into the 21st century with professionalism, sensitivity, stewardship and grace.
The first annual Dhanpat Spirit of Caring Award was given out at this ceremony in remembrance of a much loved and hugely dedicated member of the Lutheran community who passed away in October 2009. Dhanpat was a recipient of the Presidential Award in 2005 and one of "New York's Unsung Heroes," as reported by the New York Daily News in 2006. His sincerity and the special attention he devoted to each patient he helped was noted in the hundreds of thank-you letters he received. In a fitting tribute to Dhanpat, the Department of Nursing renamed its lecture series and the Sprit of Caring award in his honor.
Maakestad Award for Distinguished Nursing Leadership
Helen Costello, R.N., ED nurse manager
Suzette Collins Clinical Excellence
Tara Quaranta, R.N., ED nursing instructor
Spirit of Caring
Colleen Dawes, R.N., ANCC, Nursery
Dhanpat Spirit of Caring Award
Nicholas Loreto, PCT, Behavioral Health
Quality and Safety
Jose Hernandez, M.S., R.N., VP of Clinical Operations
Mentorship
Soraya Luntayao-Alarcon, R.N., ANCC
Lutheran Family Health Centers' Nurse of Excellence
Concetta Rizzo, R.N., patient services coordinator
Friend of Nursing Award
Billy Pyles, lieutenant, Security
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