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WSU Cameos of Caring Recognizes 15 Nurses

Posted on: Tuesday, 8 November 2005, 18:00 CST

Outstanding nurses from the Dayton region were honored recently by area health care providers during the Wright State University-- Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health's fifth annual Cameos of Caring awards gala. Nurses nominated for the award by their colleagues were honored for their wisdom, advocacy and caring in professional nursing and direct patient care. The Cameos of Caring awards program was brought to Dayton in 2000 by Patricia Martin, PhD, RN, dean of the Wright State University--Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health, who modeled it on a similar program started by Ellen Rudy, PhD, RN, then dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Rudy began the Cameos of Caring program to "honor those unsung heroes on the front lines of health care," Martin said. "The outpouring of support for this event signifies a recognition of the contribution nurses make in a community committed to high-quality health care for its citizens," said Martin. "Since we began our Cameos of Caring tradition in 2001, we have raised approximately $100,000 in scholarship funds for Wright State University nursing students."

Here are this year's recipients and their organizations:

Denise Martin

The Children's Medical Center

The continuity of care coordinator at Children's Medical Center (CMC), Denise Martin began her career at CMC more than 19 years ago. She has a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Cedarville University. She was awarded CMC's Nursing Excellence Awards for Coaching in 1996 and for Patient Advocacy in 2005. She holds certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Jacqueline Miller

Community Hospital

Jacqueline (Jackie) Miller has spent 19 of her 20 years as a Registered Nurse at Community Hospital. She works as a nurse in the emergency room. Miller received her nursing diploma from the Community Hospital School of Nursing. She holds certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Miller has been awarded both the Above and Beyond and the Star Performer awards from Community Hospital.

Elaine Haney

Dayton Heart Hospital

Elaine Haney has been with the Dayton Heart Hospital since its opening in 1999. A Registered Nurse for 18 years, she has worked in a variety of settings, including the ICU Step-Down, Surgical ICU and Cardiac ICU. She currently works in the Progressive Critical Care Unit. Haney earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Wright State University and is certified as a critical-care Registered Nurse and in advanced cardiac life support. She was awarded the Salute to Nurses award in 2005 from Dayton Heart Hospital.

Marlene Davis-Pierce

Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Marlene Davis-Pierce, RN, has spent 20 years at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As a nurse in the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic and Chronic Pain Clinic, she manages the primary care and specialty needs of her patients. In 2002, Davis-Pierce was the recipient of the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Hospital Association. She received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Capital University.

Sharon Bennett

Good Samaritan Hospital

Sharon Bennett has been a bedside nurse for more than 40 years at Good Samaritan Hospital, currently in the labor and delivery unit. She received her nursing diploma from the Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing. Bennett is the recipient of the Samaritan Star nursing award from Good Samaritan Hospital.

Cynthia Blankenship

Grandview/Southview Hospitals

Cynthia (Cindy) Blankenship has worked as a nurse for 20 years at Southview Hospital. She is a charge nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), a member of the policy and procedure committee and a trainer for the new computerized perioperative charting. She earned her associate's degree in nursing from Sinclair Community College and her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Wright State University.

Lori J. Eavers

Greene Memorial Hospital

Lori Eavers has worked at Greene Memorial Hospital since she became a Registered Nurse nine years ago. She currently works as a patient education specialist, instructing both patients and staff about diabetes and wound care. In 2004, Eavers received the California Pacific Award for Excellence in Patient Education for her project, "Patient Education Teaching Packets." Eavers received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Wright State University. She is a certified diabetes educator and CPR instructor. Eavers also holds certifications in advanced cardiac life support and trauma nursing core course.

Susan Boesch

Hospice of Dayton

Susan Boesch has been a Registered Nurse for 20 years, 10 of those at Hospice of Dayton. She served as shift supervisor of Hospice's 51-bed inpatient facility for four years before joining Care Partners, an outreach program of hospice care to nursing homes. As a Care Partners case manager, she works closely with patients, families and staff. In addition to being a certified hospice and palliative care nurse, Boesch also holds certification from the Oncology Nursing Society in Cancer Chemotherapy Administration. She earned her associate's degree in nursing from Sinclair Community College.

Diane Montgomery

Kettering Medical Center

Diane Montgomery began her 37-year work history with Kettering Medical Center as a nurse's aide and, in 1984, became a Registered Nurse. She has worked in various units, including radiation oncology, medical intensive care and coronary care. Her true love is cardiac nursing, and, in 1994, she collaborated with Dr. Saleem Ahmad to start the first cardiac electrophysiology lab in Dayton. She helped start Kickstarters, for individuals with defibrillators, and is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society. Montgomery received her associate's degree in nursing from Kettering College of Medical Arts.

Veronica Miller

Life Connection of Ohio

Veronica (Roni) Miller has worked at Miami Valley Hospital for all 12 years of her career as a Registered Nurse. Miller has developed clinical guidelines for potential organ donors and determination of brain death. In 2004, Miller became part of the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, a national organization. She received her associate's degree in nursing from Sinclair Community College and her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. Miller holds certifications in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support.

Peggy Martineau

Mercy Medical Center

Peggy Martineau is called an "everyday saint" in the 4 South- Intensive Care Unit Stepdown at Mercy Medical Center, where she has worked for 33 years of her 40-year nursing career. Martineau earned her nursing diploma from Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. She holds certifications in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. In 2004, Martineau received the Outstanding RN award from Mercy Medical Center.

Ann Crenshaw

Miami Valley Hospital

Ann Crenshaw works in the radiation oncology unit at Miami Valley Hospital, where she has worked for 19 years. Crenshaw has worked with patients as young as two and as old as 92. She involves other disciplines to provide holistic treatment for her patients and delivers bad news with grace. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Wright State University. Crenshaw is certified as a lactation consultant and an oncology nurse.

Joyce Burleigh

Southwestern Ohio School Nurse Association

A school nurse for 17 years, Joyce Burleigh has provided direct patient care to students at four different schools in Dayton public schools. To help pregnant students, Burleigh set up a prenatal and baby care program at Patterson Career Academy and has helped set up nurseries at other Dayton schools. With a grant from the American Nurses Association, Burleigh assisted in developing a film to educate students about HIV and AIDS. She also developed a film to teach unlicensed personnel how to administer medication in Dayton schools. She participates in the Southwestern Ohio School Nurses Association. Burleigh earned both her bachelor of science in nursing degree and master of science degree in nursing from Wright State University. She holds certification as a school nurse.

Frank Beel

Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare

Frank Beel has worked as a psychiatric nurse at the Dayton Campus of Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare for all seven years of his professional nursing career. Beel must identify patient problems at admission and make thorough and comprehensive nursing assessments. He integrates interdisciplinary treatments to lead to positive patient outcomes. Beel received his associate's degree in nursing from Sinclair Community College.

Mary Allen

Upper Valley Medical Center

With more than 32 years of nursing experience, Mary Allen divides her time at Upper Valley Medical Center, where she has worked for 17 years, as a clinical trials coordinator in the cancer care unit and as a staff Registered Nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU). Allen is also active in the Relay for Life. She received her nursing diploma from Niagara Community College and her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Metro State College. Allen is certified as a critical care Registered Nurse.

Provided by the Wright State University Office of Communications and Marketing.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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