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Rebecca Berman, MD, received one bit of advice from her physician father that stuck with her when she began her residency: “Be nice to the nurses because they are the ones who will teach you medicine.”
Berman shared that pearl of wisdom last week as residents expressed their appreciation by honoring nine nurses at the 2006 Housestaff Nursing Awards. New residents fresh out of medical school find nurses among their greatest mentors and friends as they begin their hectic residency years. Nurses offer support and guidance and, by their own example, teach residents what it means to be caregivers.
Berman’s fellow residents felt the same, as the response to the call for nominations was enthusiastic. “Many residents were unable to pick just one nurse mentor and resorted to nominating entire pods of nurses,” Lydia Siegel, MD, event chair, said during her remarks to a standing room only crowd in Carrie Hall last Friday.
From 50 nominees, Erin Collier, RN, Tower 14; Becky Thomas, BSN, RN, Tower 12; Katrina Harris, MA, BIMA; Vytas Durickas, RN, Oncology; Suzanne Lieberman, RN, CCU; Marji Rogers, BS, RN, CCRN, MICU; Theresa Berry, BSN, RN, Faulkner Hospital; Afi Alfred, RN, VA; and Lynn Rodriguez, BSN, RN, Care Coordination, were selected as Housestaff Nursing Award winners.
Residents recognized nurses for their patience and empathy, and for teaching them to care for patients compassionately. “We are all scared coming in as residents,” Anne Liu, MD, said. “The nurses understand this and really put us at ease, making our transition less intimidating.”
Mary Thorndike, MD, shared a story about Thomas’s care for a cardiac patient who was emotionally distressed. “Becky made the patient’s problems her own,” Thorndike said. “I always will remember this effort of patient advocacy and use it to model my own treatment of patients.”
Thorndike also nominated Lieberman for her competence and take-charge mentality. She addresses every situation with the patient in mind, prioritizes and gets the job done. “I always felt comfortable working with Suzanne,” Thorndike said. “I knew nothing too bad could happen because Suzanne had my back.”
Emily Maher, MD, and Jen Ho, MD, praised Berry for her emotional support and composure in stressful situations. “Theresa always knew the right things to say to calm me down and encourage me to persevere,” Maher said. “I couldn’t have made it through my residency without her.”