The Winners of D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards 2020 – D Magazine

How We Did It

We contacted local hospitals, doctors, nursing organizations, and patients and asked them to visit our website to nominate outstanding nurses. We asked nominators to answer three questions regarding how the nurses affected their lives, community, and profession. The editors selected the best nominations and sent them to a panel of esteemed registered nurses in various fields. The panel could not judge those they worked with directly. We compiled judges scores to select the 113 winners. We also vetted the registered nursing licenses and reviewed any disciplinary actions of each winner.

My daughter has terrible migraines. It became medically necessary for her to have Imitrex at school, so her doctors faxed over the request for medication to be given. When her school nurse received it, she called me and said she didnt think the dose was right. She asked me if she could call the doctors office and get the prescription clarified before my daughter had another migraine. I said that was fine and that Id call ahead to tell them it was OK to speak with her. You know what they said? Shes just a school nurse. We know what we are doing. We do this all day, every day.

To make a long story short, Regina Miller was a pit bull with a sweet smile. When the doctors office finally got sick of her calling, they looked at my daughters prescription and were horrified to realize theyd prescribed four times the amount of Imitrex she was supposed to have. If given in excess, this drug can cause serious heart problems, in addition to brain hemorrhage or stroke. Had it not been for Regina, anyone at the school in her absence could have given the wrong amount. We could have given the wrong amount at home.

We are all human and make mistakes, but we hold medical people to higher standards. Thank goodness for gatekeepers like her. Name withheld, Lewisville ISD parent

Holoprosencephaly is a disorder where part of the brain fails to develop. Its a very big condition for a tiny baby. Most cases are so severe that the baby will not survive.

One family received this diagnosis and was advised their baby would likely not survive the pregnancy or the delivery. They made the difficult decision that they did not want to see their baby girl after delivery. It was just too hard. The baby girl was born alive, but the prognosis was grave. At the request of the parents, the baby was taken to the nursery for comfort care.

This neonatal nurse practitioner was assigned to attend the delivery and brought the baby to the nursery. It was evident that the baby would not survive for very long, based on the extent of her condition. She did not want this little girl to die alone, so she became this babys surrogate mom. She wrapped up the baby, sat in a rocking chair, and sang and cried for two hours until this precious angel slipped peacefully away, wrapped in loving arms and hearing whispers of love.

Recently, this family returned to give birth to a healthy baby. The parents asked to see Alaana. They wanted to thank her in person for the care and compassion she showed their firstborn baby girl. Teresa Land, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Methodist Health System

Sarah Mackie often goes above and beyond for her patients. One time, she was working with a nursing student, and they were caring for an elderly patient who experienced constipation after surgery. The patient was anxious and embarrassed about getting an enema and the possibility of not making it to the bathroom in time.

Sarah walked the patient through the procedure and what to expect, but the patient continued to express anxiety. Sarah had to go gather a few supplies, so she left the nursing student in the room with the patient and had them watch the commercial video for the Unicorn Squatty Potty. When Sarah returned, the patient was laughing so hard that the patients anxiety was gone and the patient agreed to proceed with the enema. After the enema, they got the patient successfully to the bathroom. While the patient sat on the commode, Sarah had the patient watch the YouTube video of the Scottish grandma trying to read The Wonky Donkey. The patient was smiling and laughing.

Its not all about medicine. Its also about the human aspect, and Sarah embodies this every time she works with a patient. The nursing student also went away smiling, knowing that nursing is an art that does not always look like what we see in textbooks. Christine Mohl, nurse manager II, Baylor Scott & White Medical CenterGrapevine

Beyond healthcare, the patient populations we serve face unique challenges in their social determinants of health. We have a large pool of diabetic patients in our ZIP code, and yet they struggle to find healthy food choices such as fresh vegetables and fruits in the areas where they live. Many of our patients buy their groceries from convenience stores.

Rhonda Green listened to her patients struggles while trimming or shaving calluses off their feet. She then collaborated with our registered on-site dietitian and diabetes team to host regular diabetes fairs at the clinic. The fairs are free and open to the public. Patients are given healthy cooking demonstrations using the common produce that can be found around the area. They learn different methods of cooking and no longer have to rely on frying their food. Guests are also provided with education on many ways to manage their diabetes challenges.

This nominee went above and beyond her role to be an active participant in the planning committee, knowing that her contribution would benefit the patient populations she serves. Yin Lam, nurse manager, Bluitt-Flowers Health Center, Parkland Health & Hospital System

Tracine AdameDirector for Research & Clinical Innovation Medical City Dallas

Jennifer BrownClinical Educator Childrens Health

Jeanne CareyDirector of Simulation Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Damon CottrellAssistant Dean & Clinical Professor Texas Womans University

Nkechinyere EchefuClinical Education & Academy Partnership Parkland Health & Hospital System

Robyn FazProfessional Development Specialist Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Jenny HarshmanManager, Clinical Education Childrens Health

Adora LuciusWound Care/Enterostomal Therapy Department UT Southwestern Medical Center

Lynsay MaloneCritical Care Clinical Nurse Educator Texas Health Huguley Fort Worth South

Peggy MancusoAssociate Dean for Research and Clinical Scholarship/Professor Texas Womans University

Hayley McVayClinical Education & Academy Partnership Parkland Health & Hospital System

Skip MorelockAdministrative Supervisor Texas Health Presbyterian Plano

Kelly L. RosslerAssistant Professor Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Kristin L. SchefferNursing Professional Development-Generalist Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health

Jordan SchoolsClinical Educator Childrens Health

Ressie (Nikki) SchwallsSurgical Services Administration Parkland Health & Hospital System

Stacy SmithSenior Director, Integrated Ethics and Conflict TransformationChildrens Health

Cheryl A. TuckerClinical Associate Professor, Level 2 Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing Coordinator Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Mandy Diane WinklerMultiple Sclerosis Department of Neurology and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics UT Southwestern Medical Center

Karen WrightDirector of the Center for Nursing Education and Research Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health

Andrea AnsleyNurse Manager, Medical-Surgery & Telemetry Texas Health Plano

Juliemar AtanacioManager, Post Anesthesia Care Unit Medical City Dallas

Lindsay BackschiesTransplant, Colon/Rectal, ENT Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Jennifer BowdenClinical Manager, Ambulatory Care Texas Scottish Rite Hospital

Casey BradfieldDirector, Magnet Program Childrens Health

Joseph BrookshireEmergency Department/Trauma Texas Health Dallas

Karen BurgessClinic Manager UT Southwestern Medical Center

W. David CampbellVice President, Chief Learning Officer Childrens Health

Sally CarmenClinical Excellence Program ManagerTexas Health Resources

Linda CastlemanWomen & Infants Specialty Health Nurse Admin Parkland Health & Hospital System

Joe Don CavenderSenior Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer Childrens Health

Mary CazzellDirector of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Cook Childrens Medical Center

Nina CostillaMedical-SurgicalTexas Health Dallas

Cheryl Crittendon-GlaspieCare Management Parkland Health & Hospital System

Sandipkumar DhorajiyaGYN-Oncology Parkland Health & Hospital System

Suzanne DiagleObservation Unit-Emergency Department Parkland Health & Hospital System

Shelby DoMedicine ICU Parkland Health & Hospital System

Pamela FordWomen & Infants Specialty Health-Antepartum Parkland Health & Hospital System

Viji GeorgeClinical Excellence Program Manager Texas Health Resources

Michael HernandezNursing Director Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

Karen HollisSurgical Services-Ortho Parkland Health & Hospital System

Kelly Ann HoseltonAdvanced Practice Service Manager Childrens Health

Pat JacksonSenior Director Infection Prevention Childrens Health

Ginger KingDirector of Acute Care Services Methodist Dallas Medical Center

Alicia Ann LankfordLabor and Delivery Nurse Manager Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Dulce LopezTrauma Parkland Health & Hospital System

Jody MacklingManager, Advanced Practice Service Childrens Health

Dawn MarchettoExecutive Nursing Leadership-Emergency Department Parkland Health & Hospital System

Karen McCarthyDirector of Clinical Operations Medical City Frisco

Christopher McLartyAssociate Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Ambulatory Services UT Southwestern Medical Center

Kathryn OsteenClinical Associate Professor: Texas Regional Executive Leader-The Childrens Heart Foundation Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Kristi OwenTrauma Clinician-Performance Improvement Texas Health Resources

Sudharshan PathakMedicine Specialties Parkland Health & Hospital System

Napoleon Player IIDirector of Nursing Perioperative Services Texas Health

Alban RectorNursing Supervisor Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Diana RichPerinatal Quality & Safety Nurse Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health

Michelle RobersonNurse ManagerUT Southwestern Medical Center

Tommy SawyersAdministrative Chief of Nurse Anesthesiology & Advanced Practice UT Southwestern Medical Center

Kaye SchmidtSenior DirectorChildrens Health

Christi SmallwoodNurse Manager Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Tabitha SouthAssistant Chief Nursing Office Medical City Plano

Jean StoreySenior Vice President Childrens Health

Laura SweattDirector of Magnet Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

Jeremy TaylorDirector of Trauma & Emergency Services Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

Tami TurrubiarteClinical Manager Childrens Health

June Van HooseSurgical Services Administration Parkland Health & Hospital System

Brooks WilliamsDirector of Nursing, Critical Care Services Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

Iris AndradeOncology Nurse Navigator Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas

Jon Kyle AustinRegistered Nurse Baylor Scott & White Medical Center

Lincy BabuRegistered Nurse UT Southwestern Medical Center

Megan BarnettInpatient Rehabilitation Medical City Lewisville

Felicia BessmanRegistered Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adjunct Faculty (Texas Christian University), Licensed Professional Counselor Baylor Scott & White Medical CenterGrapevine

Virginia BuschardtAmbulatory Clinical Support Services Parkland Health & Hospital System

Kimberly CaldwellSupervision Burn Clinic/Hyperbaric Oxygen Services Medical City Plano

Jessica CooperRegistered Nurse Methodist Charlton Medical Center

Malia CoverRegistered NurseBaylor Scott & White Medical Center

Natalie CreelCritical Care & Rapid ResponseMedical City Plano

Melissa CunananStaff Nurse/Charge Nurse, Neuro ICU UT Southwestern Medical Center

Valerie Michelle DuronStaff Nurse Cardiac Rehabilitation Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano

Lindsey FloresRegistered Nurse/Patient Family EducatorChildrens Health

Mayra GarciaPediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Childrens Health

Alaana GarrisNeonatal Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Levels Program Manager Methodist Charlton Medical Center

Rhonda GreenBluitt-Flowers Health Center Parkland Health & Hospital System

Coleman G. HallNeonatal Intensive Care Unit Texas Health Resources Dallas

Allison HarkerNewborn APRNs Parkland Health & Hospital System

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The Winners of D Magazine's Excellence in Nursing Awards 2020 - D Magazine