Click here for photo gallery from 2003 Nurse Recognition Dinner.
• Ice Cream Anyone?
• Lighting Up The Lobby
Nancy Kruger stood gracefully at the podium at the Westin Hotel on May 7 to welcome BWH nurses to the 2003 Nurse Recognition Dinner, the energy of more than 550 friends, colleagues and supporters resonating throughout the room. Slowly she read the letter of a patient whose life had been so positively impacted by a BWH nurse. The same theme was repeated at events throughout the hospital celebrating May as Nurse Recognition month. Recognizing the special bond between nurse and patient, the letters represented the very best in nursing.
“You are among the very best at what you do,” said Kruger, senior vice president of Patient Care Services. “The level of commitment you maintain for the people who seek our expertise never ceases to inspire me. You are heroes every day. You are passionate about your profession. You challenge us to be better with the endless reservoir of talent you provide to this organization.”
This special evening at the Westin Hotel in Waltham celebrated nursing at BWH included a video presentation entitled “21st Century Nursing: Envisioning the Future.” BWH President Gary L. Gottlieb, MD, MBA and Chief Medical Officer Andy Whittemore, MD joined Kruger at the podium to welcome attendees. The highlight of the evening came as Mary Pennington, Neurosciences educator, was announced as the 2003 Mary S. Fay Essence of Nursing Award recipient. Finalists included Carol Flavell, Deb Cummings and Gabriele Harrison.
“My choice to become a nurse is one I have never regretted,” said Pennington upon accepting the award. “In a world where evil, pain and suffering exists, we are in a position to do so much good. Caring for the sick, relieving suffering and changing lives. If there is a greater purpose in life than this, I don’t know what it is.”