NurseWeek recognizes 45 nurses on a red-carpet night to remember

By Michelle Paolucci, Managing Editor
May 22, 2003

LOS ANGELES-A stone's throw from Universal Studios and the Hollywood Hills, nurses from across California walked the red carpet at the Hilton Universal City and Towers to celebrate 45 extraordinary nurses.

More than 400 guests, their friends and family attended NURSEWEEK's fifth annual California Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony April 25.

Out of hundreds of nominations, a panel of judges under the direction of Carol Bradley, MSN, RN, regional vice president and editor for the California region, selected 45 finalists for the awards in eight categories: Advancing the Profession, Clinical Care, Community Service, Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Patient Advocacy, Mentoring and Teaching.

The Sierra Ballroom at the Hilton was packed and brimming with excitement and anticipation on the evening of the event, as Bradley opened the evening with a welcome and a thank-you to the sponsors.

She explained how this year's event was different from previous years because of the new philanthropic focus of the Excellence Awards. Bradley pointed out the special challenges for nursing in California and how this inspired NURSEWEEK to establish the California Fund for Nursing that will be governed by the California Institute for Nursing and Health Care. The fund is for scholarships, mentoring programs and other workforce initiatives.

Tom Johnson and Deloras Jones, MSN, RN, key members of the institute, addressed the audience and thanked NURSEWEEK for its contribution to nursing.

Just before she announced the finalists, Bradley gave a nod to Richard Brock, MA, RN, popular emcee of previous NURSEWEEK awards events, who was in the audience instead of on stage this year.

"Well, unlike Richard, I don't play the piano, I don't sing and I don't dance," Bradley said.

As she presented an award to Brock, Bradley drew "awws" from the audience when she said, "To recognize Richard for all of the work he has given to build this event, this is his own little star."

As Brock exited the stage, Bradley readied the audience for the "really important part of the event … the stories of these nurses" we honor for their excellence.

"Now we get down to some serious business," she said.

Finalists were brought to the stage in groups to be recognized in each category. Janet Hensley, associate publisher of the California region, congratulated each finalist and handed their award to them, as Bradley read a short description of the nominations that their peers had written.

When the time came for the winners to be announced, Bradley made a reference to the Academy Awards. "We even have envelopes," she said.

"This is the part of the event where we try our best to give you the very best of these finalists, which is almost impossible to do as you can tell by listening to their stories. To compare them against each other is almost impossible," she said.

Carolyn Balliet
California Department of Health Services,
Mono County Health Department
Mammoth Lakes

Carolyn Balliet, RN, PHN, awed the crowd with her calculation of the nursing years at her table. "Looking around the table at all the nurses I have worked with since 1964, I think I calculated 240 years of nursing at my table," she said.

"I would just like to thank all of my staff members who have contributed to this," she said.

Joan Brosnan
VAMedical Center
West Los Angeles

"Thrilled" to receive the award, Joan Brosnan, Ph.D., RN, thanked NURSEWEEK and the sponsors for putting on the event. "This is a wonderful nurturing experience for all of us," she said. She also thanked her family, colleagues and "the people that I have worked with through the years for help shaping my development.

"I also want to thank those wonderful people who took the time to write all of this about all the finalists. Thank you," she said.

Mary Halvorson
Children's Hospital
Los Angeles

Although "rarely speechless," Mary Halvorson, MSN, RN, CDE, kept her thank-you brief. "Thank you so much. None of this happens alone," she said. "Thank you to everyone at the Center [for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles] and thanks to the administration and to my family."

Elisabeth Harvey
Memorial Hospitals Association
Modesto

Elisabeth Harvey, MSN, RN, CETN, was the first winner announced for the evening. She graciously thanked Bradley and exited the stage.

Vicki McCain
San Antonio Community Hospital
Upland

Accepting the award, Vicky McCain, MHA, RN, thanked her nominators when she took the podium. "I would like to say that it is only through the people who nominated me to be here tonight; it is their hard work and their support that have allowed me to make a contribution to our organization," she said.

She also thanked her colleagues, friends and family. "I accept this award in honor of our nurses at San Antonio [Community Hospital]. I will treasure it forever," she said.

Deborah Harris
Children's Hospital
Los Angeles

Deborah Harris, MN, CPNP, RN, was "touched" by winning the award. "Thank you so much. I would like to extend my thanks to our administration at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. It is such a wonderful place to work. I'm so privileged to be there and to work as a nurse," she said.

She also thanked "every single member of our health care team" and for the ongoing support of her husband and family. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it," she said.

Rose Virani
City of Hope National Medical Center
Duarte

Just like the teacher that she is, Rose Virani, MHA, RNC, OCN, expressed her pride in others as she congratulated the other finalists for being nominated in a "tight" category. Virani thanked the City of Hope [National Medical Center] Research and Education Center, her colleagues and her husband and son. She also thanked her daughter who had another event to attend but was there "in spirit."

Jonathon Mack
Whittier Hospital Medical Center

Jonathon Mack, MSN, NP, RN, was brief. "I just want to thank everyone at Whittier Hospital [Medical Center] for the opportunity there that the CEO has given me and all the wonderful nurses there. Thank you," he said.