nightingale, nursing, awards, health care, didion,
May 6, 2020
Oakland University’s School of Nursing and its Board of Visitors announce the 2020 Nightingale Award winners. This year’s top nurses in Michigan come from a variety of clinical roles and settings, and are recognized as exceptional in their various nursing roles.
National Nurses Week is celebrated annually starting on May 6 through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. In this time of global health crisis, the invaluable role nurses play in health care is more apparent than ever. This week is the perfect time to honor nursing professionals that are frontline heroes, fighting this unprecedented pandemic.
This year’s Nightingale Awards event will celebrate 2020 being designated the “International Year of the Nurse” as well as commemorate the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale.
Through generous individual donations, along with support from their Board of Visitors, Oakland University School of Nursing has created a Nightingale Legacy Scholarship to be introduced this year. This endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to nursing students who display the pioneering spirit of Florence Nightingale.
“We take our mission of educating and helping to create top nurses in Michigan very seriously,” said OU School of Nursing Dean, Judy Didion, “Our goal is to create more nurses who emulate the spirit and tenacity of Florence Nightingale -- innovative, passionate nurses who can change the world.”
The Nightingale Awards event will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at San Marino Club, Troy, MI. Each of the 11 Nightingale Award winners will receive a check for $1,000, a solid bronze statue of Florence Nightingale and a Nightingale ceremonial pin. Runners-up will receive a commemorative plaque and Nightingale ceremonial pin. Nominees were nominated by their peers, supervisors and patients in recognition of their superior nursing expertise.
The 2020 Nightingale Awards presenting sponsor is Ascension Health, the platinum sponsor is J&B Medical Supply Co. and gold sponsors are Henry Ford Health System and Beaumont Health.
For more information on the event, please contact Kate Lionas in OU School of Nursing at (248) 364-8723 or by email at [email protected] or visit oakland.edu/nursing/nightingale.
2020 Nightingale Award Winners & Runners Up:
Advanced Practice Nursing
Winner: Madonna Ladouceur, Huron Valley Sinai Hospital
Runner-Up: Patricia Klassa, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
OU School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni
Winner: Christina Boyland, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Runner-Up: Kelley Wilson, Karmanos Cancer Institute
Excellence in Education
Winner: Delicia Shimkoski, Hutzel Women’s Hospital
Runner-Up: Suzanne Purvis, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Excellence in Research
Winner: Toni Glover, Oakland University School of Nursing
Runner-Up: Lindsay Pemble, Beaumont Hospital, Wayne
Emerging Nurse Leader
Winner: Derek Cousino, Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn
Runner-Up: Laura Ashburn, Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi
Executive Administration
Winner: Anne Stewart, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Runner-Up: Julie Nemens, Detroit Medical Center
Nursing in the Community
Winner: LaTosha Whaley-Lawrence, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Runner-Up: Susan Martinez, Oakland County Health Division
Post-Acute Care & Specialty Nursing
Winner: Paula Levesque, Beaumont Health
Runner-Up: Kimberly Jarvis, McLaren Macomb
Staff Nurse (2)
Winner: Kate Wagner, Detroit Medical Center, Harper Hospital
Winner: Christine Diatto, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Runner-Up: Alexis Zynda, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Runner-Up: Marisa Chen, Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi
People’s Choice Award
Winner: Vanessa Sesi, Ascension St. John Macomb Oakland Hospital
Runner-Up: Christiane Champagne, Residential Home Health
# # #