Community Corner

An Evening For Nightingales

48 nurses honored for going "above and beyond"

The Nightingale Awards are given annually to selected nurses from around the county in recognition for their dedication to the job, and with Senator Richard Blumenthal as a regular keynote speaker, the event is no small affair. 

"It's takes physical strength, emotional strength, perseverance and real courage," Blumenthal said. "I think nursing is a calling." 

A crowd of about 500 nurses, friends and family gathered to honor the 48 nurses accepting the award Thursday. Nurses are selected by the nominating committee, usually comprised of the prior year's Nightingales, in each participating organization. 

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"It's such a special event," said William Stanley, vice president at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. "They're recognized and honored by their peers in the industry." 

Mary Lenzini, president of the Visiting Nurses Association in Southern Connecticut agreed. 

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"It's such an honor to be recognized by people you work with day in and day out."  

Kristin Nunes, of the Ledyard Regional Visiting Nurse Agency, said her jaw dropped when she found out she was selected. 

"It's such an honor," Nunes said. "I love what I do." 

Vanessa Reid, a nurse for Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, who works in the New London High School was selected for the award and said that many of her co-workers have been awarded in the past and she feels honored to be in their company. 

"Vanessa is a gem," said her supervisor JoAnn Eaccarino. "She really respects the kids and shares her knowledge with the team." 

Recipients of the award stand out for "caring for the patient in an extraordinary way," said Lauren Williams, the chief nursing officer at . Williams said the selection process takes about three months because, she said, "all of them that are nominated fit the bill." The hospital was allowed to select 10 nurses, though many more were nominated.

Recipients felt honored by the award but credited others for their exceptional dedication or said that it was just part of the job. 

"It's nice to be recognized," said Reid, but "I think just being a nurse is doing a great job because it's such hard work."   

"It's who I am and it's who we are and what we do and to be acknowledged recognizes all of us," said Lisa Neville of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. "I wouldn't be able to do what I do without my colleagues." 

The annual event began 10 years ago in New Havan by the Visiting Nurses Association of South Central Connecticut and grew to include Stamford, Hartford and New London-Norwich in 2003. The award is open to nurses in all health care settings.

An alphabetical list of those awarded at the 9th annual Nightingale Awards ceremony:

  • Jessica Batchelor, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Karen Banks, BSN at Eastern CT Hematology and Oncology
  • Desiree Brown, LPN at Colchester Family Medicine
  • Karen Butterworth, BA, RN at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Yvonne Claffey, BA, RN at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Suzanne M. Cowden, RN, BSN at Eastern CT Hematology and Oncology
  • Maureen M. Davis, RN, MSN, CNM at OB-GYN Services
  • Lisa DeCarlo, RN, BSN at Hospice Southeastern CT
  • Judith Elwood, RN at VNA of Southeastern CT, Inc.
  • Jeannine Fournier, RN at Day Kimball Healthcare
  • Carol Gilles, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Karen Goetchius, MSN, RN, CHCE at Ledyard Regional VNA
  • Cathy Grant, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Margaret Haire, RN at Oncology and Hematology Associates, PC
  • Patricia Hyder, BGS, RN, CNOR, CMLSO at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Barbara Kays, BA, RN at Backus Home Health Care
  • Carole (CJ) Krajec, RN at VAN of Southeastern CT, Inc.
  • Joan Kuhnly, MS, RN, IBCLC at the University of Connectcut School of Nursing
  • Shirley Langford, RN, MBA at Interim HealthCare of Eastern CT, Inc.
  • Marguerite Langlais, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Catherine Littlefield, RN at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Jo-Ann Main, RN-BC at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Katica Marfat, BSN, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Kathleen Mason, BSN, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Debra Morgan, RN at Fairview Nursing Home
  • Lisa Neville, RN, CCRN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Kristin Nunes, RN at Ledyard Regional VNA
  • Ellis Palmer, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Janet M. Perry, RN, CHPN at Day Kimball Healthcare, Inc.
  • Vanessa Reid, APRN, PNP at Child and Family Agency of SECT, Inc.
  • Kathryn Rogers, RN at Interim HealthCare of Eastern Connecticut, Inc.
  • Elizabeth Sadosky, RNC-OB, CCE, EFM-C at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Jennifer Schneider, BSN, RN at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Marque Setevage, APRN, PNP at Child and Family Agency of SECT, Inc.
  • Judy Shea-Ursin, RN, CNOR at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Renee Smith, RN, MSN at Day Kimball Healthcare, Inc.
  • Florenda Tobias, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Suzanne Turner, MSN, RN at Three Rivers Community College
  • Sonia Uy, RN at The William W. Backus Hospital
  • Susan Vincent, RN at VNA of Southeastern CT, Inc.
  • Lucy Wanich, RN, CCM at Day Kimball Healthcare, Inc.
  • Megan Watts-St.Germain, RN at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital
  • Emily White-Kelly, RN at Academy Point at Mystic
  • Terry Wilson, RN, BC at Masonicare Home Health and Hospice
  • Michael Wiseman, BSN, RN at Stonington Institute
  • Jessica Wolak, BSN, RN, OCN at The William W. Backus Hospital


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