2023 Nurse Recognition Awards honor excellence in nursing 

From left: Owen Guerini, BSN, RN, Caroline Ambros, BSN, RN, Ella Haines, BSN, RN, Meigan Amaral, MSN, RN, CCRN, Jeanna Coakley, BSN, RN, Ronald Cassesso, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, Karen Jewett, RN, and Dalles Smith

Each year, as part of its National Nurses Week celebration, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital celebrates its nurses with awards recognizing excellence in critical thinking, commitment to patient teaching, continuing education and outstanding delivery of patient- and family-centered care with compassion and dignity.

This year, the 2023 Nurse Recognition Awards ceremony was attended by the award recipients, their loved ones, family representatives for whom the awards are named, hospital leadership and colleagues.

In her remarks, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services Cori Loescher, MM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, reflected on what it means to be a nurse. To the award winners in the room, she said, “I thank you as the CNO. I thank you as a member of the Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital administrative team. I thank you from the entire Department of Nursing. And I thank you on behalf of our patients, our families and our community. You are simply spectacular, and you represent the very best.”

BWFH President David McCready also addressed the award recipients, saying, “I hope you know how much I honor, cherish and respect the practice of nursing and what all of you do every single day. There is a phrase that says, ‘nurses are the backbone of the hospital,’ but I think that sells you short. I would say you are the backbone, the brain and the heart of the hospital.”

This year’s winners, listed below, are just a few examples of the amazing work being done within the Department of Nursing on a daily basis.

Karen Jewett, RN, from 6 South was presented with the Mary Devane/Extra (S)Mile) Award. The award was established in 1998, by the family of Mary Devane, to be given to any member of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital Department of Nursing (RN, PCA, UST, MHW, Secretary) in recognition of their commitment to delivering patient care with compassion, kindness and humor.

Ella Haines, BSN, RN, from 6 North received The Angela McAlarney Award. The McAlarney Award was established in 2003 to be given to a member of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Nursing in recognition of excellence in patient and family education.

Caroline Ambros, BSN, RN, from 6 North and Ronald Cassesso, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, from 7 North both received Mrachek Awards. The Mrachek Award was established in 1995 and is given to members of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Nursing in recognition of their clinical skills and to support their continuing education in the nursing profession.

Owen Guerini, BSN, RN, from 7 South received the Newly Licensed Nurse Award. This award was established in 2019 and is given to a Newly Licensed Nurse hired in the previous 12 months at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in recognition of their personal and professional growth.

Dalles Smith from Case Management received the Emmly Fidelia Nursing Support Staff Award. This award was established in 2020 and is given to any support staff member of the Department of Nursing (PCA, UST, MHW, Secretary) in recognition of their integral role to the commitment and delivery of care for the units, staff and patients they care for/work with.

ICU Professional Development Manager Meigan Amaral, MSN, RN, CCRN, and Jeanna Coakley, BSN, RN, from 7 North each received the Kathy Codair Leadership Award. This award, given for the first time this year, is given to two leaders in Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Nursing in recognition of their dedication to the embodiment of empathy, kindness and clinical excellence in the way they lead their teams and care for their patients.

Published 5/12/23