MAYWOOD, Ill. - The nurses of the neonatal intensive care unit at Loyola University Medical Hospital in Maywood, Ill., are doing something exceedingly right in caring for their tiny patients, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
For the second year running, the organization of more than 7,000 members has bestowed upon a Loyola NICU nurse its highest honor, the Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award, an annual honor given to a neonatal nurse who best demonstrates excellence in patient care and who is viewed as a role model by his or her peers.
"It's a surprise because I didn't think they would give it to another person from Loyola, but I'm very honored," said Lisa Festle, RNC-NIC, MSN, CCNS, a colleague of Jeanette Cronin, BSN, RNC, who won the award in 2007. "I always try to do my best when I'm at work. I try to give the best patient care I can and help my co-workers. It feels nice to be recognized."
Festle and Cronin join another Loyola NICU nurse, Joan Townsend, BSN, RNC, who won the award in 2000.
"The award process is blinded so they didn't know that Festle worked at Loyola," said Patricia Hester-Lund, RN, assistant manager on Loyola's NICU. "I think it's wonderful that Lisa won. We have some really outstanding nurses here. They do a lot of community work. Like Lisa, they are very involved and committed."
Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award recipients are chosen from nominees from throughout the United States. The winner must possess knowledge of current clinical practices, demonstrate excellent communication skills and focus on family-centered care using an interdisciplinary approach. Also, the winner must be viewed as a leader by co-workers and management.
"As a parent, you would definitely get the feeling that your baby would be in competent hands when Lisa is the nurse caring for your baby. It is common for Lisa to be caring for the sickest of patients," according to the nomination letter from the Chicago Area Association of Neonatal Nurses. "Her compassion for her patients and their families is noticeable."
Festle, 43, received her bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1987 from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing in Maywood. In 1993, she earned her master of science in nursing degree from Niehoff School of Nursing. She has worked in the neonatal unit of LUMC since 1987.
"We have great nurses here. We also have one of the best neonatal ICUs in the state," Festle said. "Many of the nurses have been in our NICU for 20 or more years. They're so dedicated. I think there are many nurses in our NICU who are deserving of the Robyn Main award. They're the best. That's why so many nurses stay here so long."
Festle will receive the award at the national Association of Neonatal Nurses Conference, which takes place Sept. 24-27 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Cronin, now in her 30th year working as a NICU nurse, continues to work in Loyola's early discharge program, which provides help and education to parents of premature babies who are discharged to home. Fluent in Spanish, she also works with Spanish families and helps to make sure they find Spanish-speaking pediatricians near their homes. Townsend also continues to work in Loyola's NICU.
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Loyola nurses earn Critical Care Registered Nurse status
Tricia Boylan, RN, CCRN; Michael Fressola, RN, CCRN; Christine Gilihan, RN, CCRN; Laura Parise, RN, CCRN; Laura Doloszycki, RN, CCRN; and Leticia Matysik, RN, CCRN, have earned Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification. Gilihan, Parise, Doloszycki and Matysik work in the intensive care unit department at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill.
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Loyola nurse presents paper at annual convention
Ramute O. Kemeza, RN, BSN, presented "Has Sinus Congestion Met Its Match: Balloon Sinuplasty" at the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses, Inc 32nd Anniversary Congress and Symposium. She will be presenting the paper jointly with Dr. Joseph Scianna at the symposium that took place in September in Chicago. Kemeza is a nurse in the ambulatory surgery center at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill. Scianna is an assistant professor, department of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood.