The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing winners of its annual awards to recognize achievement in nursing care and support to nursing by medical center administrators.
Recipients of the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing are:
- Darlene Simdorn, R.N., of the Fargo, N.D., VA Medical Center
- Milagros Davila, a licensed practical nurse at the San Juan, Puerto Rico, VA Medical Center
- Beverly Jivers, a nursing assistant at the Columbia, S.C., VA Medical Center
- Stephen Lucas, director of the Erie, Pa., VA Medical Center, is the recipient of the Secretary’s Award for the Advancement of Nursing Programs.
The awardees are being honored for their exceptional contributions to quality VA health care in ceremonies today in Washington, D.C.
“These award winners represent the very best among the more than 60,000 nurses providing quality care to millions of our nation’s veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown said.
“Nursing is critical to our goals of ensuring comprehensive, accessible care in a system that continually strives for the highest quality possible,” Brown added. “As VA adapts to the changes in health care, VA nurses are playing increasingly important roles as top managers and providers of care.”
Criteria for the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing include the recipient’s integration of current standards of nursing practice into clinical care, meeting performance standards, interaction with co-workers to achieve appropriate care, and maintaining skills through continuing education and inquiry.
The Secretary’s Award for Advancement of Nursing Programs considers factors such as the incorporation of contemporary nursing practices into the facility’s existing nursing program, the involvement of nursing as a clinical discipline at the facility, and provision of support services such as personnel or technology to enhance nursing.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
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