From left: Nurses Sasha DuBois, Allison Webster and Nadia Raymond celebrate their peers and profession at BWH’s annual nursing dinner.

Each May, BWH recognizes the profession of nursing and the 3,300 nurses who make a difference in the lives of Brigham patients and their families, colleagues and communities. Here are just a few ways BWH nurses have been celebrated this month.

Essence of Nursing and Nurse Recognition Dinner

More than 400 Brigham nurses – along with hospital leadership, Department of Nursing benefactors, physician colleagues, family and friends – gathered on May 4 to pay tribute to BWH nurses and the nursing profession.

“Authentic caring through loving kindness for self and others creates the human connection that is at the very heart of nursing practice,” said Lisa Morrissey, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, interim chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services. “And it’s these connections that strengthen us as individuals and as a community of caregivers.”

In addition, five exemplary nurses were recognized as this year’s Essence of Nursing recipient and honorees:

Andrew Bober, BSN, RN, of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Float Pool, is the 2017 recipient of the Essence of Nursing Award, the highest honor given to clinical nurses at BWH. Bober was praised for his authentic leadership, compassion, devotion to relationship-based care and ability to connect with patients.

Four nurses were named Essence of Nursing honorees: Susan Gabriel, BSN, RN, CCRN, clinical nurse, Cardiac Surgery ICU, Shapiro 6W; Siobhan Raftery, BSN, RN, CNRN, clinical nurse, Intermediate Neurosciences, Tower 10CD/12B; Josette Renda, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Post-anesthesia Care Unit; and Tracey Slaven, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Tower 7D.

The five honorees are also recognized as part of a display in the 75 Francis St. lobby. Learn more about these nurses in this week’s edition of BWH Heart & Science.

Department of Nursing publishes annual report 

The Department of Nursing 2016 Annual Report highlights the department’s collective achievements from the past year and illustrates the Brigham’s commitment to quality, nursing excellence, interprofessional collaboration and innovation.

This year’s report includes stories about BWH’s path to Magnet designation, the Connors Center for Women and Newborns’ annual Service of Remembrance, nursing research featured at Discover Brigham and more.

BWH Nurses Honored in Boston Globe’s Salute to Nurses

Each year, The Boston Globe invites patients, families, health care staff and the public to honor nurses who have made a difference by nominating them for the publication’s annual Salute to Nurses. Nine BWH nurses and two nursing teams were among those honored this year:

ICU and Stepdown nurses, Shapiro Cardiovascular Center

Pat Aylward, MSN, RN, CCRN, nurse director, Tower 14CD,
and Tower 14CD nurses

Laura Calderone, BSN, clinical nurse, NICU

Michelle Clancy, BSN, clinical nurse, Shapiro 9/10

Stewart Fenniman, RN, clinical nurse, Cardiac ICU

Rita Ferris, RN, clinical nurse, Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic

Janet Shea, BSN, clinical nurse, Surgical ICU, Tower 9D

Victoria Sherry, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Post-anesthesia Care Unit (retired January 2017)

Sue Webb, LPN, nurse practitioner, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Community Physicians at Hyde Park

Joanna Woodman, BSN, RN, CWOCN, clinical nurse, Wound Care Center