National Nurses Week: May 6-12, 2014

“These bright men and women leverage both their scientific skills as well as their relationship abilities to impact and improve the work of nursing and thereby transform our systems to ones that are patient centric. I daily witness nurses who enthusiastically go about the work of making a difference and am proud to be their colleague and celebrate their impact on our healthcare system.”

— Ann Scanlon McGinity, PH.D., R.N. 

Melissa “Missy” Howard, R.N.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
“Missy is always willing to go the extra mile for her patients, families and peers. She seeks out opportunities to help others and is incredibly giving of her time. She serves as an excellent mentor for our recent graduates and new nurses. Our families frequently request her because she not only has critical nursing skills but also the caring and loving attitude necessary to be an exceptional nurse.”

— Sharron Kirby, Clinical Manager of the PICU

MelissaJoy “MJ” Cox, R.N.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
“Melissa Joy is an inspiration to those around her with her unwavering advocacy for our patients and for all underserved children. She spends her vacation time each year on missionary trips around the world and she has found her calling working with orphaned children in Uganda. She will be leaving our NICU team in May to work for a year in Uganda as a child advocate. This is volunteer work and she has fundraised the money that she will need to live for a year while taking care of these children in need. We are so proud of the work that MJ has done here and the work that she will do in Uganda supporting children.”

— Nicole Francis, Clinical Director of the NICU

Melissa Peguero, R.N.
Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum
“Melissa is extremely passionate about being able to actively be there for and participate with the family during their birth experience. She always has a smile on her face and makes everyone around her feel special.”

— Kirsten Benjamin, Administrative Director of Women’s Service

Lavelle Grubb, R.N.
John S. Dunn Sr. Burn Center
“As a burn nurse for the past 30 years, Lavelle is the epitome of what a nurse should be: kind, caring, intelligent, hard-working, giving and a mentor. She goes out of her way to make her patients feel special and well cared for, while at the same time, giving them the best possible care.”

— Debra Mulkey, R.N., colleague at The John S. Dunn Sr. Burn Center at the Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute

Rudy Cabrera, R.N.
Memorial Hermann Life Flight
“Rudy is an excellent clinician and has become the Life Flight crew educator for the department. He is a mentor and preceptor to all of the employees. He has revamped our medical crew orientation and has used evidence-based medicine to update our Life Flight Patient Care Guidelines. The crew even likes to tease him with the nickname ‘super nurse.’”

— Georgian “Georgie” Brown, Chief Flight Nurse for Memorial Hermann Life Flight

Wimberly Melton, R.N.
Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit
“A simple ‘thank you’ seems wholly inadequate to express our appreciation for the nursing care she provided when our 19-year-old granddaughter, Cherissa, was a patient in Memorial Hermann (Texas Trauma Institute)’s ShockTrauma ICU in June. From the moment that my husband and I arrived on the unit, she provided us with everything we needed to cope with the situation we faced. I will forever remember the kindness, sensitivity, responsiveness, respect, and support she provided every moment throughout that day and into the night. From one critical care nurse to another, from one trauma nurse to another, you were beyond the best, Wimberly, so thank you.”

— JoAnn Grif Alspach, R.N., Editor of Critical Care Nurse Journal

Theresa Johnson, B.S.N., R.N., C.B.C.N.
Nellie B. Connally Breast Center
“Theresa epitomizes all that a breast care nurse should be and has a passion for thoughtfully engaging patients and their caregivers. She also assumes a leadership role in supporting other nurses on their journeys toward certification, which has led to 100% of MD Anderson’s eligible breast center nurses becoming certified.”

—Susan Ferguson, Clinical Administrative Director for the Breast Center

Angela Krach, B.S.N., R.N., O.C.N.
Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies Unit
“It’s difficult to stand out, head and shoulders above the other nurses at an institution of MD Anderson’s magnitude. But Angela Krach does stand out not only for her exceptional clinical skills, but also for her caring compassion and commitment to patients
and caregivers.”

— Colleague

Mary Lou Warren, D.N.P., R.N., C.C.R.N., A.C.N.S.-B.C., C.C.C.N.S.
Department of Critical Care
“Mary Lou relentlessly promotes excellent patient care. She has outstanding communication skills, thinks system-wide, and demonstrates the values of the advanced practitioners in the current health care system.”

— Joseph Nates, Professor in Critical Care

Haley Mattiza, B.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N.
Medical ICU
“During her five years as a registered nurse, Haley has blossomed and grown into an amazing, compassionate health care provider. I have witnessed firsthand Haley’s quick mind, caring heart and compassionate spirit. Haley is not one to stand on the sidelines and let things happen she makes things happen! Haley’s caring heart is evident in the way she treats her patients and their families.”

— Preceptor

Christie Aguirre, B.S.N., R.N., C.H.P.N.
Main 3NW, AOD
“Christie conducts herself in a professional manner at all times. She is always positive and enthusiastic, and demonstrates empathy in a caring manner to patients and family members. She is patient and very methodical in her teaching skills for the nurses she mentors and provides explanations and rationales to support her techniques. She is willing to always go that extra mile, and her patients can see and
feel it.”

— Manager

Lorelie (Lori) Lazaro, M.S.N., R.N. C.M.S.R.N.
Main 7SW, General Medicine/GI/ Hepatology Unit
“Many colleagues may view Lori as a quiet nurse, but while she talks little, she listens more. Serving as a charge nurse on the nightshift is not an easy job, but what Lori says she enjoys the most about the night shift is that it provides the best opportunity to sit at the bedside and listen to her patients as they unfold their stories. There are those who cannot sleep because of the pain and many worries, and there are those who are just afraid to sleep that they might not see another day. It is in those moments that Lori feels she is making a difference and is ensured that she made the right decision in becoming a nurse.”

— Colleague

Jocelyn Ellison, M.S.N., R.N.
Community Living Center
“Jocelyn’s judgment is respected by everyone from hospital leaders to bed- side nurses. We always call upon for her expert opinion and count on her for her compassion knowledge and skills. She always keeps the patient uppermost in her mind and leads by example.”

— Tammy Welcome, Nurse Executive for Community Living Center

Shirley Koshy, M.S.N., R.N.
Operating Room
“As the assistant nurse manager of the OR, Shirley is a dependable sincere nurse who is totally committed and dedicated when it comes to the care of the surgical patients. She offers professional guidance for clinical practice, research and related issues to about 70 employees and is a true leader.”

— Molly Alex, MEDVAMC Nurse Executive Operative Care Line

Karen Aylor, B.S.N.
Patient Care Unit 5E
“Karen plays a key role in leading and mentoring nurses in our Medical Center. Her fellow nurses see that she is respected by her patients and genuinely cares about the veteran patients. Thanks to her expert advice, the many employees she has precepted over the years have gone on to accomplish remarkable things. Veterans always remember Karen’s name long after they are discharged. She has a tremendous impact on patients, nurses, family members and everyone she meets.”

— Molly Alex, MEDVAMC Nurse Executive Operative Care Line

Pat Mouish, B.S.N., R.N.
Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine Clinic
“Pat is a lifelong learner who has been instrumental in providing safe and compassionate care for her patients. With more than 30 years of dedicated service, Pat’s hard work and initiative has exemplified Baylor’s core values, and her commitment and loyalty allows patients to have continuity in their care. She exhibits selfless service, going above and beyond the call of duty to help accommodate patients.”

— Jessica Smith, Manager of Clinical Operations, Department of Medicine – Outpatient Clinic

Carol Elizondo, B.S.N., R.N.
Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center
“Carol has provided compassionate, patient-centered care for more than 25 years at Baylor College of Medicine. Her dedication to excellence at the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center has greatly impacted the lives of her patients. She is a valued member of her health care team, and provides safe and efficient care to all patients. Carol has a true heart for her profession.”

— Jessica Smith, Manager of Clinical Operations, Department of Medicine – Outpatient Clinic

Tenika Murry, B.S.N., R.N.
Diagnostic Services, Baylor Clinic
“Tenika has great compassion for her patients. She has served in diagnostics for three years and has helped the department grow as a team because of her nursing leadership. She and her nursing team provide outstanding nursing care.”

— Peggy Ottosen, Manager of Clinical Operations, Ambulatory Operations

Jamie Heffernan, R.N.
Blocker Burn Unit
“Jaime has led the Blocker Burn Unit at UTMB with a fearless dedication, warmth and intellectual brilliance that have inspired a generation of nurses, doctors and other allied health specialists. She almost single handedly kept the unit open during a hurricane, saving all patients. She opened the unit to children from throughout Texas when no other pediatric burn center was available. She designed a new burn unit that is recognized worldwide as an example of excellence in design and efficiency.”

— Dr. David N. Herndon, Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Chair in Burn Surgery and Professor of Surgery Chief of Staff, Shriners Hospitals for Children

Eloise Catrett, A.P.R.N., R.N., M.S.N., A.C.N.P.-B.C.
Center for Advanced Clinical Practice
“As an advanced practice registered nurse, Eloise is an expert clinician who goes beyond the call to make sure the patients receive exceptional care as well as supporting the bedside R.N. Her ‘can do’ attitude enables us to overcome challenges without impacting patient care. With a willingness to always take on new projects, Eloise serves as chair for a hospital-wide quality initiative and co-chairs a CPR committee.”

— Linda Cole, Manager, Center for Advanced Clinical Practice

Janie Yanez, R.N.
Cardiac Cath Lab
“With quick thinking, a calm demeanor, superb nursing assessment, exceptional monitoring skills and highly specialized training, Janie is an experienced Room Leader who provides compassionate, high-quality care to cardiac patients. She works in an critical care environment and exhibits professionalism and poise. Janie is an important contributor to our success and is always striving to achieve the highest standard of excellence and is recognized as a role model and inspiration to other nurses.”

— Jody Bucci, Clinical Director Cath Lab

Erin Mouton, R.N. 14 Tower,
Cardiology Telemetry Unit
“An exceptional nurse at work and in her community, Erin shares her spirituality and compassionate care on a daily basis with kind words and prayers for patients and their families. Her compassion goes beyond the hospital walls through to her community involvement that includes participating in a church camp for children diagnosed with ADHD. Dedicated with a purpose and a smile that is always genuine and never forced, Erin possesses a ‘calming peace’ especially in times of crisis.”

— Valerie Edwards-Arkadie, Nurse Manager, 14 Tower and Camille Dumoit, R.N., 14 Tower