Hospital News, 10-1-2011 - Western Pennsylvania Healthcare News

Issue No. 10 wphospitalnews.com| 35Jennifer Prager, BSN, MSNKindred Hospital, RobinsonJennifer Prager has been a staff nurse at Kindred Hospital, North Shore foreleven years. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Nursing from FranciscanUniversity Steubenville, Ohio and last year completed her Master’s in FamilyNurse Practitioner from Franciscan University.She says she became a nurse because “she loves to care for people.” Thisis evident in the way Prager cares for her patients and co-workers. She has anatural ability to make every patient feel special. “The reward of seeing an illpatient leave our facility healthier, far out weighs all the hard work it took toget them to that level,” she says.Her co-workers often use Prager as a resource. She is knowledgeable about her patients andtheir disease process and provides excellent care.Prager is always looking for ways to help others become better nurses. She is cross-trained tobe an educator and has taught new nurses how to effectively read rhythms and understand driptitration. Prager has also taught experienced nurses the critical care course. She enjoys the opportunityto help her co-workers advance their skills. She cares for her co-workers as much as shedoes her patients. She has the ability to see when others need her, and without being asked, isthere to help. These are some of the many reasons her peers nominated her for this award.Valerie Rivett, RNHealthSouth Harmarville Rehabilitation HospitalValerie Rivett works as a Charge Nurse on the Neuroscience Unit at Health-South Harmarville, where she has provided nursing care for over 11 years. Sheearned her nursing diploma from Citizens General Hospital School of Nursingand passed the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) exam inJune, 2011. Rivett was named Clinician of the Year in 2002 and received theOutstanding Employee Achievement Award for the 1st quarter in 2010.Rivett knew she wanted to be a nurse when her grandfather was in thehospital diagnosed with cancer. She found nursing fascinating: watching thenurses start IV’s, administer chemo, and compassionately and professionally care for him to makehis life a little more tolerable. “I knew then that I wanted to be a nurse to care for and to help patientscope with their life-changing disease/illness,” she says.Her Nurse Manager calls Rivett a dedicated Professional Nurse. “Valerie is full of energy whichis contagious to other employees. She demonstrates patients are her first priority and has receivedmany positive comments from patients and families about her excellent care, patience and compassion,”she says. “Valerie is a mentor for new nurses and a definite asset to HealthSouth Harmarvilleas well as to the nursing profession.”Rosharon Price, RN, BSNUPMC St. MargaretAs a high school student in the late sixties, Rosharon Price didn’t have theunlimited career choices that women have today. “I always found medicineinteresting, so nursing just seemed to be a natural fit: a job that not only engagedmy mind, but myheart as well,” she says.Price earned her bachelor’sdegree in nursingfrom the University ofOklahoma in1974. The Gibsonia resident worksas a professional staff nurse in the OR at UPMCSt. Margaret.Although it’s been more than 30 years, Pricehas never forgotten a pediatric patient whoserecurrent episodes of apnea frequently broughther to the emergency department in respiratorydistress or even respiratory arrest. The conditioneventually caused the child’s death at about 8months of age. “I remember her name to thisday, even though it's been about 33 years. I reallyfelt for her mother and often wonder whathas happened to this family after their loss.”One co-worker says Price “represents whatnursing is all about, caring for patients and theirfamilies in a no-nonsense way.”Price admits she doesn’t think caring for peopleis something you can learn in school. “I thinkyou get a true empathy only from having experiencedthe fear, sadness, and joy from caring forpeople in your own life,” she says. “Having beenthere yourself makes all the difference.”Mary Anne Ray, RNWest Penn AlleghenyHealth System,Alle-Kiski MedicalCenterMary Anne Ray worksas a radiology nurse in theDepartment of MedicalImaging. She was encouragedto become a nurseby her father and became ‘hooked’ on the professionduring her hospital volunteer experiencesas a candy striper. “The draw for me wasthe chance to make a difference in someone’slife,” she says. “Nursing engages patients duringtheir time of need; it is rewarding to be able toease their distress.”Her patients confirm that Ray achieves thisgoal. “I remember one patient who was facinga new diagnosis of cancer and already had herselfdead and buried,” she says. “After we talked,the patient was able to sort things out realistically.She later wrote me a letter to thank meand we remain in touch to this day.”A resident of Leechburg and proud graduateof Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nursing,Ray gives back to her hospital, theprofession, and the community in many ways,including serving as a CPR instructor for 15years, being selected as an Excellence Ambassadorto represent Medical Imaging in this hospital-wideservice initiative, being elected to theRadiology Staff Action Team, and as a memberof the Greater Pittsburgh Radiology Nurses Association.“I promote healthcare careers, especiallynursing, all the time,” she says. “We educate patientsand we educate each other, every day.”Congratulations!Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North ShoreAlnora Brassel, RNOne nurse from each of the 3 Pittsburgh hospitals has beenselected to receive the Cameo of Caring award in November.University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s The Cameos ofCaring ® Program & Awards Gala honors exceptional bedsidenurses who work at acute care hospitals.At Kindred Healthcare we understand thatwhen people are discharged from a traditionalhospital, they often need continued care in orderto recover completely. That’s where we come in.Kindred offers services including aggressive,medically complex care, intensive care,Kindred Hospital PittsburghJennifer Prager RN, BSN, CRNPKindred Hospital at Heritage ValleyMary L. Narcavish RN, BSNCONTINUE THE CAREDedicated to Hope, Healing and Recoveryshort-term rehabilitation and compassionatelong-term care for dementia or Alzheimer’s.Doctors, case managers, social workers andfamily members don’t stop caring simply becausetheir loved one or patient has changed location.Neither do we.Come see how we careat continuethecare.com.NATIONALLY, KINDRED CARES FOR PATIENTS IN:LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS • NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTERSTRANSITIONAL AND SUBACUTE CARE • HOME CARE • HOSPICE • CONTRACT THERAPY SERVICES