Eight outstanding Columbus Regional Healthcare System nurses were recognized at the 2010 Jean Hartin Nursing Excellence Awards Ceremony at the Columbus Regional Conference Center at The Medical Center last month.

Awards went to top nurse leaders, R.N.s and L.P.N.s. Recognition was also given to nurses for their professional growth through degrees, licensures and advanced certification.

Jean Hartin, who retired as vice president of Clinical Services at Columbus Regional, was present for the ceremony.

Doctors Hospital Award Winners

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  Holly McGucken (CNO, Doctors Hospital), Terri Roland, R.N. (Outpatient Surgery, Nurse Leader of the Year), Melissa Johnson, R.N. (Labor and Delivery, R.N. of the Year), Rachel White, L.P.N. (Emergency Department, L.P.N. of the Year) and Kevin Sass SEO, Doctors Hospital).

  Terri Roland, R.N. (Outpatient Surgery, Nurse Leader of the Year): Terri has been a cornerstone to the nursing leadership at Doctors Hospital for many years. Her leadership in the hand-off communication project gave us “ticket to ride,” a tool to assist in communication between nursing and ancillary departments.

• Melissa Johnson, R.N. (Labor and Delivery, R.N. of the Year): Melissa is a very unassuming nurse who quietly makes sure that patients and families have everything they need. She is a wonderful source of information and is very well educated, with a master’s degree in nursing and certification in her field of obstetrics.

• Rachel White, L.P.N. (Emergency Department, L.P.N. of the Year): Rachel was chosen for her exemplary nursing skills and is considered to be the cornerstone of the Emergency Department. Her commitment to high-quality patient care is seen in everything she does.

Hughston Hospital Award Winners

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  James “Butch” Wheeler (SEO, Hughston Hospital), Cheryl Gosha, L.P.N. (2 North, LPN of the Year), Tami Hobson, R.N. (2 South, R.N. of the Year) and Lori Striblin, R.N. (Intensive Care Unit, Nurse Leader of the Year), Michelle Breitfelder (CNO, Hughston Hospital).

  Lori Striblin, R.N. (Intensive Care Unit, Nurse Leader of the Year): Lori is caring, compassionate and kind-hearted. She has a difficult job at Hughston Hospital, and she does it with admirable determination and grace. She is the go-to person to solve any problem and is always ready to help in any way she can.

• Tami Hobson, R.N. (2 South, R.N. of the Year): Tami shows dedication to quality patient care by taking charge of the overall care of her patients. She is kind and compassionate and always approachable, demonstrating a high degree of knowledge and getting involved to see that tasks get completed.

• Cheryl Gosha, L.P.N. (2 North, LPN of the Year): Cheryl is the nurse with a heart of gold, always demonstrating patience and great leadership skills. She will stop and assist anyone in need of help. Patient care is always first.

The Medical Center and Affiliated Facilities Award Winners

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  Lance Duke (president and CEO, The Medical Center), Josephine “Joie” Gosa, R.N. (8 Main, Nurse Leader of the Year), Jean Hartin (retired vice president of Clinical Services, Columbus Regional) and Robbyn Ceasar, R.N. (Endoscopy, R.N. of the Year), Babs McKnight (CNO, The Medical Center).

  Josephine “Joie” Gosa, R.N. (8 Main, Nurse Leader of the Year): Joie delivers real time teaching at the bedside for newer nurses, serves as a surrogate “manager and leader” on a unit in transition, is the primary practitioner of the palliative care program, and teaches formal course work, refusing to waiver on excellence.

• Robbyn Ceasar, R.N. (Endoscopy, R.N. of the Year): Robbyn is seen as the type of nurse girls and boys aspire to become; she is seen as a model nurse. She goes above and beyond—both from the patient care perspective as well as the team member perspective—and is very focused on excellence.