Nurses are recipients of Palmetto Gold Award
The second annual Palmetto Gold Gala, South Carolina’s premier nurse
recognition program, honored 14 of MUSC's finest nurses June 7.
Palmetto
Gold Top 100 Nurses Award winners from left to right front row are: Leslie
Scheurer Schall, R.N.; Sharon Bond, R.N.; Mary Wilbur, R.N.; Angela Raney,
R.N.; Peggy Anthony, R.N.; Dr. Jean Leuner, R.N.; Dr. Barbara Edlund, R.N.
Left to right, back row: David McDougall, R.N.; Dr. Gail Barbosa, R.N.;
Dr. Elaine Ammela, R.N.; Jennifer Milton, R.N.; Marilyn Schaffner,
R.N.
Palmetto Gold annually salutes 100 registered nurses in South Carolina who exemplify excellence in nursing practice and commitment to the profession. The net proceeds generated from the gala evening are used to provide nursing scholarships for students attending South Carolina registered nursing programs. The Palmetto Gold scholarship fund is administered through the S.C. Nurses Foundation. Joseph Nolan Myers was the MUSC BSN recipient for the 2003 Palmetto Gold Scholarship. MUSC Medical Center is a patron Palmetto Gold Benefactor.
One thousand letters were sent to nurse employers from a variety of health care settings in South Carolina providing the opportunity to nominate outstanding nurses from their organizations for this prestigious recognition. The nominator was asked to provide evidence of how the nominee demonstrated excellence in practice and commitment to the profession by addressing each of the following criteria: promotes and advances the profession of nursing in a positive way in the practice setting or the community; displays caring and commitment to patients, families and colleagues; demonstrates leadership and assists others to grow and develop; and contributions made to overall outcomes in the practice area or setting.
Twelve nurses from across the state representing various practice settings participated in the blind review process. The 12 nurses were divided into two teams of six. Each nomination was reviewed by six nurses. Three nurses reviewed and scored criteria one and two, while the remaining three nurses reviewed and scored the final two criteria. The determination of the award recipients was made based on the compiled scores the nominee received from the nurse reviewers.
Fourteen MUSC nurses from the Medical Center and College of Nursing were named as Palmetto Gold award recipients for 2003. These nurses have demonstrated excellence in their practice of nursing, going above and beyond the expected in providing care to their patients, supporting their colleagues and their institution, being advocates in their community, and demonstrating commitment to the profession.
Dr. Elaine J. Amella, Assistant Professor
Amella has consistently demonstrated effectiveness and made significant
contributions in three areas of academic pursuit: teaching, scholarship
and service. Her research has been focused on the care of persons
with late-stage dementia. She has created and tested the efficacy and feasibility
of using a training video and pamphlet appropriate for end-of-life care
for persons with dementia living at home under the care of an informal
caregiver. She has served in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner
Faculty and is currently serving on the MUSC Faculty Senate.
Dr. Gail A. Barbosa, Associate Professor
and Associate Dean for Academics
Barbosa has exhibited caring for patients and families through her
work with women of domestic abuse and has contributed to the profession
of nursing through research related to domestic violence. Not only has
she published her research findings but she has also extended her expertise
by volunteering as a sexual assault nurse examiner and by serving on local
advisory boards for organizations concerned with domestic violence.
Sharon M. Bond, Assistant Professor
As a certified nurse midwife, Bond teaches graduate nursing students,
mentors students in research efforts related to cervical cancer and cares
for women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition
to pursuing her Ph.D. in nursing, she serves as a role model for high school
students and assists those interested in a career in health to achieve
their goals. Bond is an outstanding nurse who exhibits all the characteristics
most valued in nursing—caring, professionalism, expertise and dedication.
Dr. Barbara J. Edlund, Associate Professor,
Gerontological Track Coordinator
With her real passion and heart for gerontology, Edlund was instrumental
in opening a nurse-managed, interdisciplinary primary care clinic for low-income
older adults in an apartment complex. She generously gives of herself,
caring for the elderly, mentoring graduate students and supporting colleagues
in manuscript and grant writing. She is co-editor of the geropharmacology
section of the Journal of Gerontological Nursing, member of Mayor Riley’s
Task Force on Aging, and serves on the board of directors for Coastal
Crisis Chaplaincy.
Dr. Jean D’Meza Leuner, Associate Dean for
Program and External Initiatives
Leuner’s commitment to the profession is evidenced through her work
on the Advisory Committee to the State Board of Nursing, the S.C. Colleagues
in Caring project, the S.C. Council of Deans and Directors, and the Student
Nurses Association. Recognized as a leader and resource to junior faculty,
she received funding as a formal mentor for disciplines other than nursing.
She developed school-based clinics staffed by nurse practitioners in six
schools that had limited access to care.
Margaret “Peggy” L. Anthony, Clinical Coordinator
III, Hollings Cancer Center
Anthony is a positive role model with a “can do” spirit who views
challenges as opportunities. She is the author of seven publications,
is an editor for Oncology Nursing Forum and has been accepted as a fellow
in the National Oncology Nursing Society’s Leadership Development Institute.
Certified in operating room nursing, she is preparing to take the oncology
nursing certification exam.
David J. McDougal, Clinical Nurse Leader, Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit
Known to come in on his days off to hold preceptor workshops, teach
an ECMO class or work with new graduates in the internship program, McDougal
is well liked by all. An advocate for nurses, he routinely participates
in career days and student shadowing programs, writes articles about nursing
for local newspapers and precepts student nurses.
Andrea Harris Meaburn, Clinical Nurse Leader,
10 East, Surgical Oncology
Meaburn
is the unit educator for the Surgical Oncology Unit who has the wonderful
ability to convince people that they can achieve excellence. Able to multi-task
with ease, she serves as charge nurse, manages a patient load and precepts
students with ease. This exemplary nurse will do whatever needs to be done
for the unit, the patients and her team.
Jennifer Milton, Lead Renal/Pancreas Transplant
Coordinator, Transplant Center
Past president of the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina
and currently on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
Milton obtained a $65,000 grant to fully fund 23 transplant patients to
participate in the 2002 U.S. Transplant Olympic Games in Orlando. Milton
does not just ask “why” but instead asks “why not” and makes things happen.
The number of living kidney donors has doubled since Meaburn became involved
in the program. As one patient writes, “you have the perfect person in
the job.”
Angela M. Portale-Raney, Manager, Ambulatory
Women’s Health Services
Portale-Raney’s nominator gives her credit for completely changing
the way patients are seen and members of the staff feel about their jobs.
Through sharing concepts, role modeling and willingness to work in the
trenches, Portale-Raney has been the catalyst for restoring patient’s dignity
and instituting holistic approaches to health. The result has been a change
in staff attitude, a genuine concern for patients and a growth in the practice
both in numbers of patients seen and services offered.
Betty D. Quesenbery, Hospital Services Coordinator
Quesenbery’s
years of experience in quality management uniquely qualify her to anticipate
and prevent mishaps in the clinical setting. She serves as a role model
of professional behavior and excels in helping employees attain a high
standard of practice. Quesenbery has been observed managing large groups
of angry people where her demeanor is soothing and her guidance firm. Working
during the busiest hours of the hospital day, Quesenbery calmly balances
staffing resources, patient complaints and emergent situations. Her flexibility
and willingness to do what is needed to get the job done are unparalleled.
Leslie Scheurer Schall, Registered Nurse, Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit
An ECMO specialist, Schall takes care of neonates, pediatric cases
and adults throughout the hospital. She founded and coordinates the NICU
Tender Memories Program. A strong leader, excellent preceptor and compassionate
nurse, Leslie was Children’s Hospital Nurse of the Year in 2001. Schall’s
love for nursing is reflected in all she does. She is caring and kind.
A positive role model, Schall goes the extra mile for families and coworkers.
Marilyn J. Schaffner, Administrator for Clinical
Services
Speaker at more than 90 venues, director or facilitator of six national
workshops and author/coauthor of more than 60 publications, Schaffner is
a proven, respected leader. In the past two years she has compiled a listing
of more than 150 implemented strategies to recruit and retain nurses. This
year she enrolled in the nursing doctoral program and committed the hospital
staff and resources to achieve the Magnet Nursing Services Recognition
Program Award.
Mary E. Wilbur, Continuum of Care Manager
It is not Wilbur’s nature to be defeated by complex situations. Instead,
she offers an approach that others find refreshing and positive. Certified
in oncology nursing, Wilbur’s unique caring, maturity and wisdom enable
patients and families to more effectively cope with end-of-life situations.
She inspires other nurses through her creative ideas, unique packaging
of educational programs and calm, consistent manner when things get stressful.
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