Hospital honors 10 top nurses
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 14, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Amy Willoughby receives her award from Bill Paugh, Wayne Memorial Hospital president, during the Excellence in Nursing ceremony. Wayne Memorial Hospital recognized 10 nurses for their contributions to the hospital and patient care.
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Submitted photo
Wayne Memorial Hospital's 2012 Nurse Excellence winners are, front row, from left: Kim Kennedy, R.N.; Tammy Woodard, R.N.; Michelle Toler, R.N.; Susan Peacock, R.N.; Amy Willoughby, R.N., C.R.N.A.; back row: Summer Carr, R.N.; Julie Hagans, N.A.; Lori Tillman, R.N.; and Ben Kitchin, R.N. Patricia Acosta, R.N. was absent when the photo was taken.
Susan Peacock, a registered nurse for 17 years, is known as a "true patient advocate" who takes time to sit and talk with them, even holding a hand when needed.
Registered nurse Ben Kitchin, who works in labor and delivery, was likened to the Wizard of Oz for helping a couple feel so at ease behind the scenes during their child's birth.
And Tammy Woodard, a nurse at Wayne Memorial Hospital for 22 years, is often mentioned in patient satisfaction surveys.
These are just three examples of the caliber of workers in the nursing department at the hospital, officials said Tuesday night during the annual Excellence in Nursing recognition ceremony. Ten were chosen this year to receive the Florence Nightingale flame award.
"We have been doing our Nurse of Excellence program since 1999," said Shirley Harkey, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer. She said the annual event has been held each year since, except 2001. "We have had anywhere from eight, 10, 12, 15 people to be recognized."
The honorees this year include the following:
* Patricia Acosta, R.N., a graduate of Barton College and a nurse for three years at Wayne Memorial Hospital. She works in the hospital's post-anesthesia care unit.
* Summer Carr, R.N., has been at WMH for four years. She is a graduate of Wayne Community College and works in the intensive care unit.
* Julie Hagans, nursing assistant, received her certificate from Wayne Community College and has been employed at WMH for six years. She works in the telemetry department.
* Kim Kennedy, R.N., graduated from WCC and also earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Mount Olive College. She has been with WMH for 15 years and works as a school health nurse.
* Kitchin, an R.N. for 14 years, has been with WMH for 11 and works in the labor and delivery unit. A graduate of Southwestern Community College, he has been admitted into the MSN-Nurse Midwifery program at East Carolina University as its first male student, starting in January.
* Ms. Peacock, clinical educator in the intensive care unit, is a graduate of Peace College and ECU, where she earned bachelor's degrees in education and nursing.
* Lori Tillman, R.N., has worked at WMH for 30 years. She is a graduate of James Sprunt Community College and is a corporate health nurse.
* Michelle Toler, an R.N. for seven years, has worked at WMH for 13 years. She is a graduate of WCC and works in the operating room.
* Amy Willoughby, R.N. and C.R.N.A, graduated from Bob Jones University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Raleigh School of Anesthesia. She has been at WMH for 16 years and is currently in the anesthesia department.
* Ms. Woodard, R.N., is a graduate of Wayne Community College. She works in the women, infants and children's department.