Five PCMH nurses named to North Carolina’s Great 100
Greenville, NC (August 30, 2010) - The Great 100 Inc., which promotes nursing excellence in North Carolina, has selected five Pitt County Memorial Hospital nurses for inclusion in their recognition of the 2010 Great 100 Nurses.
This non-profit organization recognizes nurses in North Carolina for their outstanding professional ability and for the contributions they had made to improve the health care services in their community.
The PCMH employees selected for 2010 Great 100 Nurses recognition exemplify and promote excellence in the nursing profession throughout eastern North Carolina.
“Great 100 nurses are leaders in their profession. They are recognized by their fellow nurses for their commitment to exemplary care and outcomes for the residents of North Carolina,” said Linda Hofler, Ph.D., chief nursing officer at PCMH. “Many are certified in their specialty, have earned advanced degrees in nursing, are partners in the community, involved in nursing research and are committed to excellence in nursing practice. We are fortunate to have these incredible nurses as a part of our nursing team.”
The PCMH nurses are:
· Kamilah Blount of Ayden is an education nursing specialist in the Center for Learning and Performance. She joined PCMH in 2000, working first as a nursing assistant/care partner, then as a staff nurse in the inpatient rehabilitation center, and then as a staff development assistant before taking on her current role. She demonstrates her passion for her profession by investing in youth for future health careers, encouraging and developing others and by role modeling leadership and mentoring skills. She has served as a mentor for youth in her local church and participated in United Way, Relay for Life, and stroke screening awareness health fairs. She also has earned numerous awards, scholarships, and recognition. Blount is active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the National Nursing Staff Development Organization. Currently Blount is enrolled in the doctoral program at Capella University in pursuit of her professional advancement.
· Malinda Harrington of Greenville is a family nurse practitioner with the PCMH Center for Children with Complex and Chronic Conditions and the transitional care unit. She has been a PCMH employee for 26 years and has practiced in a variety of roles including pediatric staff nurse, school health nurse case manager, pediatric asthma clinical case manager, and Carolina Access clinical case manager. Harrington is a certified asthma educator and holds a certificate in asthma care from the National Respiratory Training Center. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Beta Nu Chapter, the American Nurse’s Association, the North Carolina Nurse’s Association, the Eastern Region Nurse Practitioner’s Association, and Phi Kappa Phi. Harrington’s passion is caring for her patients and their families. She recognizes their daily challenges and strives to help them achieve the highest quality of life.
· Pat Ouellette of Greenville has been employed at PCMH for 30 years. Working as a nursing assistant on the post-intensive care unit was where she laid the foundation for her nursing career. Over the years she has served in several positions such as staff nurse, unit educator and acting nurse manager. She currently holds an education specialist, nursing position in the Center for Learning and Performance. Pat has been an active participant of professional development and process improvement while at PCMH by serving on several committees, including: clinical ladder, Vascular Access Safety Committee, Nursing Education, Research and Development, Patient Family-Centered Care, Retention Council, Research Council, Quality Council, Patient Safety and Simulation Development and Ethics Education subgroup. In the community, she serves as chair of a Relay for Life Team, scout leader and assistant, mentor for youth activities, facilitator for women’s ministries, and volunteer for charity events. Mentoring others is part of Pat’s passion for her profession as demonstrated by her role with students, new staff and other disciplines.
· Mollie Tripp of Greenville has worked at PCMH for 27 years. She began her career as a nurse extern in the neonatal intensive care unit, and then became a staff nurse. She worked as a neonatal transport nurse with EastCare from 1989 to 1994 and then became a neonatal nurse practitioner. Tripp completed her master’s degree in 2001 and is now working on a doctor of nursing practice degree at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She is scheduled to graduate in December 2010. Tripp serves as the chair of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Education Council and is coordinator of the annual "Topics in Neonatal Advanced Practice" conference. She is a site visitor for the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission. Tripp is also an international board-certified lactation consultant and serves as a breastfeeding educator for Children's Hospital at PCMH. She is a clinical assistant professor for the neonatal nurse practitioner program at East Carolina University's College of Nursing and is a member of the Eastern Regional Advisory Council State Medical Assistance Team. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Tripp is an active member of Oakmont Baptist Church in youth ministry.
· Julia Weaver of Ayden has been a nurse at PCMH since Feb.1986. She began her career by working on 3 South for 22 years before moving to the clinical evaluation and ambulatory medical units. She serves on various committees, such as Corner Stones, quality council and journal club. She also has served as safety officer, charge nurse, preceptor and social committee chair person. Weaver has been involved in mentoring new nurses on her unit and promoting professionalism. She has a passion for nursing and been dedicated to bedside nursing for more than 31 years. She was nominated as Top Nurse at PCMH in 1998 and has been nominated divisional nurse of the year eight times. She serves in the community by being involved in the American Red Cross, United Way, hospice, and serves as the health educator to two churches.
To view a complete list of the Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina, visit the Great 100, Inc. website at www.great100.org.
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University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina Inc., a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in six eastern North Carolina hospitals and has management agreements with two others. UHS includes Albemarle Health, Bertie Memorial Hospital, Chowan Hospital, Duplin General Hospital, Heritage Hospital, Outer Banks Hospital, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, University Home Health and Hospice; ViQuest; and physician practices and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.uhseast.com
