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The achievements of 48 nurses, from which eight winners were selected, were honored and cheered by about 350 attendees at NurseWeek’s fifth annual California Nursing Excellence Awards banquet Nov. 5 in San Jose.

California nursing’s brightest stars were celebrated during the fifth annual Nursing Excellence Awards gala dinner Nov. 5 at the Fairmont San Jose.About 350 attendees gathered to honor the accomplishments of 48 nurses, from which one winner was selected from each of eight categories: Advancing the Profession, Clinical Care, Community Service, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Mentoring, Patient Advocacy, and Teaching.

The finalists were a diverse group representing the array of opportunities that nursing offers. They work in a variety of settings, from hospitals at the bedside to rural outpatient clinics to nurse-created and nurse-run companies; there was no shortage of nursing pride at the “Starry, Starry Night”-themed awards dinner.

“Save one life and you are a hero, save one hundred lives and you are a nurse,” said Beth Ulrich, RN, EdD, senior vice president of professional services for NurseWeek/Nursing Spectrum for the South Central region. Ulrich, who was quoting “one of our colleagues at the Nebraska Nursing Association,” commented on the sentiment: “And we believe that, and that is what we are celebrating here.”

The Regency Ballroom, with tables regaled in golden, blinking stars and white-and-gold floral centerpieces positioned against dark royal blue tablecloths, set the elegant tone of the evening. “There are a lot of stars here tonight and we are going to celebrate them all,” Ulrich said, introducing Pat McFarland as the evening’s keynote speaker.

McFarland, executive director for the Association of California Nurse Leaders and the executive officer for the California Nursing Students’ Association, spoke about nursing and what she called “the ultimate nursing journey.” She invited the nurses in the audience to “use your voice” and spread a positive message about nursing.

Later in the evening, McFarland was named the winner of the Diane F. Cooper Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious award that has been given to only two other recipients in the event’s five-year history. As the Lifetime Acheivement Award recipient, McFarland received a recognition plaque and a $2500 check to be donated in her name to the nursing organization of her choice. Sutter Health and Memorial Medical Center of Modesto sponsored the award.

After the keynote address, finalists were invited to the stage by category, as Judee Berg, RN, MS, vice president of professional services for NurseWeek/Nursing Spectrum for the California region, serving as the event’s emcee, read each and every individual, inspiring, courageous story of nursing practice. Winners were announced by category at the end of the evening. Each winner’s nominator’s comments were read and each winner was given the opportunity to say a few words about their award.

For Advancing the Profession, Linda Kresge said upon acceptance of her award, “I want to thank the folks who were involved in nominating me.” She acknowledged her hospital team and leadership team. Kresge noted how much she “thoroughly enjoys being the chief nurse executive at Sequoia Hospital.”

Clinical Care winner Doug Elmore, who has been honored for injuries sustained as an Army Nurse Corps reservist, accepted his award graciously. “This is kind of tough, this is kind of heavy,” he said. “First, I’d like to thank God for making things possible, my family, my wife, Kim, who is here with me. I have to say that combat deployment would not be possible if it were not for supportive families,” he said.

Mary Massey, the winner in the Community Service category who was honored for her work in disaster preparedness, said upon acceptance of her award, “When I went into nursing, I didn’t think they were going to teach me how to make bombs. I’ve gotten pretty good at that,” she said. Massey asked the audience, “Aren’t you proud to be a nurse tonight?” She thanked her “hospital family” and her personal family for all of their support.

Palliative care innovator Jay Westbrook, said when he accepted his award in the Innovation/Creativity category, “I am so proud to be a nurse, so humbled, and almost speechless, but not quite.” Living up to that sentiment, he went on to thank many, including “a loving God and my wife.” He thanked LAC+USC Medical Center, School of Nursing, who he said “gave me my foundation.” He thanked Valley Presbyterian Hospital “for being a pioneer in having Southern California’s first palliative care and bereavement center in an acute care hospital.” With emotion in his voice he also thanked the dying and the grieving families “who have allowed me to be of service … and just learn that the place where life and death meet is filled with God.”

Leadership winner Ann Dechairo-Marino said, “I have a passion for nursing and a passion for nursing leadership.” She thanked her husband, “who has supported me through my PhD program and through all the things that I do.” She also thanked her hospital team. “The only reason I am standing here is because of the words that they wrote to honor me. I really appreciate that,” she said. In a closing comment, Dechairo-Marino mentioned how her mother opened a hospice 27 years ago. “I really believe that the essence of nursing is caring and I think that’s why I used Jean Watson’s theory of caring in my research. Thank you very much, this is such an honor,” she said.

Mentoring winner Susan Revero thanked Little Company of Mary, the organization which, she says, is a privilege to work for and “that is passionate about making a difference.”

Thalassemia researcher and nurse practitioner Susan Carson, winner for Patient Advocacy, first thanked her mother who had come all the way from Toronto to attend the awards. She also thanked her “Southern California family.” Carson said she was “blown away” by the level of nominees and finalists she shared the stage with that night. Carson, who works with children, also said, “You know what, I always joke that what I do is really for the children and it really is. I am so proud to be a nurse.”

Elizabeth Martin, winner in the Teaching category, said she was “frankly stunned and deeply humbled to be in this kind of company this evening.” She thanked all of her colleagues at Kaiser and teachers who had taught her critical thinking. “I take this award as a challenge to continue my education and continue my dream,” she said.

Advancing the Profession

Linda Kresge, RN, MPA, BSN
Chief Nurse Executive, Sequoia Hospital,
Catholic Healthcare West, Redwood City

Linda Kresge said she “likes the way nursing incorporates science and art, human dynamics and technology, teaching and direct application of teaching. I like the diversity of the [nursing] roles and the diversity of the people.” She is responsible for starting a BSN program with 30 students in a unique partnership with a community college (Cañada College), a university (San Francisco State University), the community of the Sequoia health care district, and Sequoia Hospital — “a true partnership,” she said, “between clinicians and faculty.”

Highly respected among all members of the Sequoia health care team, Kresge “supports individuals with advice, counsel, good humor, and strong intellect,” according to one of her nurses. Her leadership has resulted in strong nurse recruitment and retention numbers and excellent nursing ratios. She has arranged for RNs at Sequoia to attain a BSN via the Holy Names televideo program, and brought a $1 million grant for nurse mentorships to Catholic Healthcare West. She is a board member of the Coalition for Nursing Careers in California. The leader of CHW’s CNE Council, she eventually would like to start a mentorship program for chief nurse executives.

Joanne Jeffords, her nominator, said that Kresge “exemplifies the professionalism of nursing … Don’t take our word. Talk to almost anyone in the Bay Area!”