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| Vol. 23, No. 8 |
| May 1, 2001 |
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Texas Children's Nurses Receive Awards By CATHY MASTRANTUONO Texas Children's Hospital Texas Children's recently honored two special nurses - one who gives her free time to the children she cares for and another who makes it her job to welcome all new nurses. Mary Vincent and Cherida Bluford were honored in a special hospital celebration made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor through the Junior League of Houston Inc. Vincent, Nurse of the Year honoree, joined the ambulatory team seven years ago and works closely with neurologists to care for the thousands of patients who annually visit Texas Children's Neurology Clinic. She serves on the Epilepsy Foundation Professional Advisory Board and is a research committee member for the Association of Neurology Nurses. Vincent's knowledge of community services for children with neurologic disorders is an asset for patients at Texas Children's. Not only does Vincent encourage families to send their children to one of two dedicated epilepsy camps - Camp Spike-N-Wave and Camp Kaleidoscope - but she also has volunteered at the camps the past two years. "Receiving the Nurse of the Year Award at Texas Children's Hospital is definitely the high point of my 20-year nursing career," Vincent said. "I am deeply honored by this recognition and am inspired to do the best job I can for Texas Children's." Cherida Bluford, a staff nurse on the hospital's fifth floor, was recognized as the first Preceptor of the Year, a new award instituted to acknowledge preceptors - nurses who orient new staff nurses - as an integral part of nursing. Bluford, who has been with Texas Children's since 1989, began her career as a licensed vocational nurse and returned to school about three years ago to obtain a nursing degree. Although she has been at Texas Children's more than a decade, she said working at the hospital has been, and continues to be, a wonderful experience. "Winning this award is a great honor because I have enjoyed precepting for years," Bluford said. "It feels good to be recognized for something you enjoy doing." To assist employees in mastering job skills, a successful preceptor not only needs to be knowledgeable, patient and thorough, but also a good listener, teacher and communicator. Bluford, who was nominated by one of her orientees, was recognized for these qualities and much more. "Nurses are a vital component of the health care team," said Susie Distefano, vice president of patient care at Texas Children's. "It is extremely gratifying to recognize the Nurse and Preceptor of the Year winners and finalists, as well as all nurses who provide exceptional family-centered care every day at Texas Children's."
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