Secretary Honors Exceptional Nurses

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced recipients of his annual nursing awards for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The awardees were honored in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“VA nurses are there for veterans every minute of every day, with the high quality care that veterans deserve,” said Secretary Principi.  “While these award winners make their difficult work look effortless, the veterans and coworkers around them see, and benefit from, their devotion.”

This year’s recipients are Mary Withers, R.N., Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, registered nurse award; Helen Noel, Ph.D., advanced practice registered nurse, VA Connecticut Health Care System, expanded role nurse award; Philip Cotroneo, licensed practical nurse, Lebanon (Pa.) VA Medical Center, licensed practical nurse award; Debra Warren, NA, Dayton (Ohio) VA Medical Center, nursing assistant award; George H. Gray Jr., director, Central Arkansas Veterans’ Healthcare System, director’s award; and Sandra K. Janzen, R.N., Tampa (Fla.) VA Medical Center, nurse executive award.

VA has one of the largest nursing staffs of any health care system in the world.  Numbering nearly 58,000 nationwide, the VA nursing team – composed of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, vocational nurses and nursing assistants – provides comprehensive and compassionate care to the nation’s veterans, helping them to maintain or regain health and to learn to live with disabilities.  

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Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing 2004

• Mary Withers, R.N., Central Texas (Waco)
  After identifying an increased trend in assaults, both patient-to-patient and patient-to-staff, she initiated and led an interdisciplinary assault task force.  As a result, assault rates decreased significantly. As the hazardous materials coordinator, she has served on the safe patient handling and movement committee, conducting a time and motion study that resulted in body mechanics training.  She chaired the interdisciplinary restraint reduction committee on her unit, resulting in a decrease in restraint usage.  She has supported the geriatrics and extended care strategic action plan to aid patients and has contributed to a variety of technical and administrative programs.
  
  
• Helen Noel, Ph.D., APRN, West Haven, Connecticut
  Helen Noel works as an advanced practice registered nurse assigned to primary care.  She is also a member of the human studies subcommittee, a clinical researcher and a courtesy faculty member for the Yale University Graduate Nurse Practitioner Program.  Noel has been recognized for her outstanding work in implementing one of the first home telehealth programs for VA.  Through home telehealth, patients can send information by phone for their health care providers to review and provide timely intervention.  Telehealth can help prevent exacerbation of illness, hospitalization and long-term care.  Noel continues to function as a nurse practitioner in the Compensation & Pension Office, along with providing primary care for urgent visits.
  
  
• Philip Cotroneo, L.P.N., Lebanon, Pa.
  Cotroneo is a retired Air Force sergeant, having served for 20 years.  He has worked as a licensed practical nurse at the Lebanon (Pa.) VA Medical Center’s medical-surgical unit since April 2001.  Cotroneo’s greeting to each veteran or visitor, “How can I help you, my friend?,” has become a trademark.  
  
  
• Debra Warren, NA, Dayton, Ohio
  Warren, a nursing assistant, is recognized for her efficient care and by her enthusiasm and joy.  She encourages a cohesive therapeutic environment, giving assistance wherever it is needed.  For veterans in hospice, she offers special personalized care.  
  
  
• George H. Gray Jr., Director, Central Arkansas (Little Rock)
  Gray’s efforts have resulted in his facility being the first to allocate and operationalize Advance Practice Nurses as clinical support. The patient safety practitioners’ program has made a major impact in fall prevention and restraint reduction.  He has emphasized upward mobility programs, decreased the nurse vacancy rate and retained quality nurses.  He is overseeing the planning and construction vital to the growth of the facility — projects to foster expanded and streamlined patient care services. 
  
  
• Sandra K. Janzen, R.N., Nurse Executive, Tampa, Fla.
  Janzen serves as the VISN 8 nurse liaison, chairs the utilization management committee and the patient service workgroup.  She is on the executive leadership board and health systems committee.  Under her leadership, the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital became the 29^th organization worldwide and the only VA health care facility to achieve Magnet Status.  She now serves as an inter-VA and VA-Department of Defense consultant on the Magnet application process.  Janzen has been a pioneer of innovative technology, including telehealth-telemedicine projects.  She chairs a group responsible for developing the VA-wide database of nursing sensitive quality indicators. 

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