St. Francis Hospital nurses recognized for professional excellence

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Several nurses were recognized for service and leadership in their respective fields at the annual St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers Excellence in Nursing ceremony.

The recent ceremony and banquet was first of several events planned throughout the year honoring the service of St. Francis’ 1,400 nurses.

The award categories, recipients and their service areas:

Clinical: Jerry Stancombe (Joint and Spine Center-Beech Grove) and Connie Seigman-Jones (Hospice-Indianapolis)
Community Service: Judy Jones (cardiac rehabilitation-Indianapolis) and Toni Galyan (obstetrics, Mooresville)
Preceptor/Mentor: Crystal Poole (Center for Geriatric Medicine-Beech Grove) and Dolores Grah (critical care unit-Indianapolis)
Nursing Quality: Kim Devine (Center for Geriatric Medicine-Beech Grove) and Becky Kohl (Pain Management Clinic)
Professional Development: Robin Standeford (obstetrics-Mooresville) and Lora Meyer (Pain Management Clinic)

Each nurse received a cash stipend for educational seminars and a plaque.

The ceremony also recognized the 2008 Richard E. Fry, M.D., Memorial Nursing Scholarships, program funded by the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation. The recipients were Jamie Perry (obstetrics-Indianapolis) and Carrie Webb (inpatient admitting-Beech Grove.

One activity that focuses on nurses’ role in helping tend to patients’ spiritual needs is the “Blessing of Hands.” This special service, which symbolizes the hands-on aspect of healing, will be offered on all St. Francis nursing units.

Public areas and cafeterias at all three St. Francis hospitals also will be the sites of ice cream socials and photographic displays celebrating nurses and their achievements and promoting the profession.