Secretary Honors Exceptional Nurses

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson recently announced the recipients of the annual nursing awards for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The awardees were honored in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

“Our health-care system — the largest in the country, and, in the opinion of many industry experts, world-class in quality – would be nothing without our strong foundation of nurses,” said Secretary Nicholson.  “The nurses’ professionalism, skill and compassion drive the engine of VA health care for the more than 5 million veterans who visit our facilities every year.

“This year we are celebrating VA’s 75^th anniversary, and the dedication and devotion to the mission of caring for the nation’s veterans has not diminished one iota among our nursing corps,” Nicholson said.

This year’s recipients of the Secretary’s Award for the Advancement of Nursing Programs are:

• For registered nurse in an expanded role — Marthe Moseley, Ph.D., of South Texas Health Care System in San Antonio;  
• For registered nurse — Kim Pyatt, of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center; 
• For licensed practical nurse — Ferris Jones, VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Tacoma, Wash.;  
• For nursing assistant — John Cheng, of Northport, N.Y., VA Medical Center;  
• For advancing the nursing program — Timothy B. Williams, director, VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Tacoma, Wash.; and  
• For advancing the nursing program — Rebecca Newsom Williams, associate director for patient nursing services at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Denver, Colo.

VA has one of the largest nursing staffs of any health care system in the world.  Numbering 59,225 nationwide, the VA nursing team provides comprehensive and compassionate care to the nation’s veterans, helping them to maintain or regain health and to learn to live with disabilities.  

The 39,278 registered nurses who daily make a difference in veterans’ lives include 515 certified nurse anesthetists, 2,935 nurse practitioners and 610 clinical nurse specialists.  VA also has 10,809 licensed practical or vocational nurses and 9,138 nursing assistants.

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Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing 2005

Marthe Moseley, Ph.D., R.N., South Texas (San Antonio)
An advanced practice nurse at the South Texas Health Care System, Moseley is recognized for her clinical expertise in many areas.  She is a key consultant to local and national committees, teacher and an in-demand speaker and presenter.  Moseley is noted for her expertise with evidence-based practice groups, program planning and research.  She contributes to the professional development of colleagues and other health care providers and leads them in addressing tough ethical issues.  

Kim Pyatt, R.N., Cleveland, Ohio
Kim Pyatt came to Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center more than five years ago as a staff nurse and a night charge nurse in the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU) until she was selected as the geriatrics and extended care wound coordinator in 2002.  Today Pyatt has clinical oversight of wound care prevention and management for 190 veterans in the NHCU.  Among her many accomplishments, she implemented wound care rounds on all NHCU wards and serves as the wound care coordinator for the Geriatric and Extended Care Line.   

Ferris Jones, LPN, Tacoma, Wash.
Eight years ago, Ferris Jones, licensed practical nurse, came to VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Tacoma, Wash., following retirement from active duty in the U.S. Army, after 20 years of honorable service.  Jones continues his service to veterans in the Mental Health Service (Homeless Care Line) in the Domiciliary Care Program.  The residential program is for 60 veterans in treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse or homelessness and unemployment.  Recognized for his outstanding work ethic, Jones developed an educational orientation video for veterans new to the program.

John Cheng, NA, Northport, N.Y.
A VA success story unfolding, John Cheng, nursing assistant at the Northport, N.Y., VA Medical Center, is the award recipient for the nursing assistant category.  At the medical center since 1998, he is a product of the VA-sponsored LPN program, “Grow Your Own.”  Cheng is recognized for his excellent care to the veterans in the Nursing Home Care Unit.  For example, Cheng helped a young veteran with a traumatic brain injury who was withdrawn and not responsive to staff attempts to communicate.  But the veteran shared his concerns and fears with Cheng and eventually others.  In January, Cheng advanced to licensed practical nurse and is now working on pre-requisites for his registered nursing degree.

Rebecca Newsom Williams, R.N., Denver, Colo.
Recognized for her advancement of nursing programs, Rebecca Newsom Williams, R.N., is the associate director for Patient and Nursing Services, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Denver.  She holds a masters of public health.  At national, regional and local levels, Williams propels nursing programs forward through her exemplary leadership and administration of clinical and academic nursing programs and achievements.

Timothy B. Williams, Director, Seattle, Wash.
Leadership begins at the top and that is especially true for Timothy B. Williams, director, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, who is recognized for his advancement of nursing programs.  Williams is a VA leader who consistently demonstrates his support of nursing programs, clinical and academic, as well as recruiting and retention initiatives in the medical center, community and nation.  He is one of five directors selected to participate in the Washington State Hospital Association to plan strategies in response to the nursing shortage.  

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