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News Release

UPMC NORTHWEST HONORS NURSES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE

HONOREES - Among the nurses who received UPMC Northwest's 2007 Excellence in Practice awards are Sue O'Neil (left), Brenda O'Polka (second from right) and Shirley Persing (right) of UPMC Northwest, Robin Raup (second from left) of Sugar Creek Station, and Pam Ruth (center) of Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County.

May 9, 2007 — UPMC Northwest has presented its fourth annual Excellence in Practice awards to 20 members of its nursing staff.

The awards recognize nurses throughout the UPMC Northwest organization – including its hospital, home health care, and skilled nursing divisions – who excel in their role as professionals and who typify the values and standards of nursing practice.

This year’s honorees, nominated by their co-workers and/or physicians, include 16 nurses from UPMC Northwest, three from Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County, and one from Sugar Creek Station skilled nursing and rehabilitation center.

The awards are given as part of UPMC Northwest’s observance of National Nurses Week, National Hospital Week, National VNA Week and National Nursing Home Week, all of which are occurring this week. 

NURSING AWARDS - Among the nurses who received UPMC Northwest's 2007 Excellence in Practice awards are Kathy Weaver (second from left), Stacey Shiley (center) and Diane Peterson (right) of UPMC Northwest, and Julie Stralko (left) and Bonnie Yeager (second from right) of Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County.

The Excellence in Practice award recipients for 2007 are:

• Rhonda Best, RN, 3 South (Medical/Oncology)
• Sandy Bowser, RN, 2 North (Intermediate Care Unit)
• Michelle Collins, RN, 3 North (Medical)
• Mike Condon, RN, Emergency Department
• Deb Dowling, RN, Diabetes Care Center
• Deb Gregory, RN, Emergency Department
• Leslie Kitelinger, RN, 3 West (Surgical/Pediatrics)
• Bev Lawton, RN, 2 West (Critical Care Unit)
• Julie McClelland, RN, Emergency Department
• Deb Murray, RN, 2 North (Intermediate Care Unit)
• Sue O’Neil, RN, 3 West (Surgical/Pediatrics)
• Brenda O’Polka, RN, 2 South (Medical)
• Shirley Persing, LPN, Transitional Care Unit
• Diane Peterson, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Robin Raup, LPN, Sugar Creek Station
• Pam Ruth, RN, VNA
• Julie Stralko, RN, VNA
• Stacey Shiley, RN, Emergency Department
• Kathy Weaver, RN, 3 South (Medical/Oncology)
• Bonnie Yeager, RN, VNA 

The award recipients are recognized for excellence in any or all of the roles that comprise nursing practice: direct patient care; patient/family education; as a contributing member to the nurse’s department; through community, civic or church activities; and through ongoing development and learning, either formal or informal.

The Excellence in Practice awards ceremony was held at the Elks Club in Franklin.