Outstanding Nurse of the Year
Awardee: Denise Taylor, RN
Denise currently works as a nurse on the Adult Day Unit, although she also covers other areas including in the Infectious Disease Clinic and Discharge Planning. She teaches classes in the Patient Education Program. She is seen as a resource by the health care team working in these areas. As one colleague wrote, “Denise is very knowledgeable about the tasks and what the providers need. I am new at National Jewish and she was fortunately one of the nurses that oriented me. She helped me understand the inner workings of NJH and what my role will be. Denise takes charge and when she sees a learning opportunity for new employees, or even old ones, she takes the opportunity to speak up. She is not afraid to do more work for the providers than what they request. She makes sure the patients understand their treatment plans and their diagnosis. If a patient needs something Denise will be right there lending a hand.”
Other nominees for Nurse of the Year:
Sara Brayshaw Caroline Bronchick Kelly Buller Cathy Chacon Katie Harris MJ Johnson Becky McCarty | Amity Paul Beth Roscrow Audra Swies Gladysh Maryanne Kaessner Kaci Chacon Ann Hefel |
Outstanding Patient Care Associate of the Year
Awardee: Cari Pfohl, MA III
Cari Pfohl is a Patient Care Assistant is the cardiology clinic. Very seldom have I some across an individual who adds so much value to a clinical division. As one colleague wrote, “Not only does Cari run our daily operations in clinic as our MA-3, she is invaluable in developing innovative solutions to difficult problems. She has single-handedly revamped our work up process, managed staff schedules, and simply is the “secret sauce” that makes our clinic run like a well-oiled machine. She has managed to energize and inspire the entire cardiology clinic to work together as on cohesive team. She constantly works to grow the junior staff while making her nursing colleagues empowered to do more, faster, and more efficiently. With Cari’s grasp of daily operations and logistics, she enables all of the doctors, nurses and allied staff to get their jobs done more efficiently.”
Other nominees for Patient Care of the Year Award:
Zeljka Bjelanovic Naomi Birdsong Imelda Cervantes Lauren Foster Sonia Guzman Amber Jandreau | Jerry Jennings Jeanann Jones Terri Sweetwine Shelly Wallace Juanita Willoughby |
Colorado Nightingale Award Nominees:
- Denise Taylor, RN, Adult Care Unit
- Sue Walsh, RN, Clinical House Supervisor and Manager of Internal and External Pool
- Ann Mullen, RN, MSN, CNS, AE-C, Patient Education Coordinator