NEENAH, Wis. – Five top Wisconsin nurses and an exceptional nurse leader were recently recognized for their outstanding service, and dedication to patients and families by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s College of Nursing (CON) and Board of Visitors during the annual Nightingale Awards ceremony. ThedaCare nurses were among those who were honored during a virtual ceremony in April. All Nightingale award recipients received a cash prize and an original commemorative award.
“The 2020 nominees exemplify the highest standards of nursing practice as well as the nurse leaders who facilitate that care,” explained Jackie Anhalt, ThedaCare Chief Nursing Officer, who also serves a role on the College of Nursing Board of Visitors. “We are incredibly proud of the ThedaCare team members who were nominated and received recognition. They embody the passion for providing excellent care that can be found in all of our team members at ThedaCare.”
2020 Nightingale Winners from ThedaCare include: (please see photos at the end of release)
Audrey Rosin
UWO nursing alumna Audrey Rosin ‘15, of Waupaca, was the sole recipient of the Nurse Leader Award. Rosin is known for her consistency and integrity while serving as a registered nurse clinical manager at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca.
Devoted to lifelong learning and clinical excellence, Rosin leads the system in staff engagement scores and is considered the system expert in emergency preparedness and trauma accreditation. She has the ability to make sense of chaos, encouraging the nursing team to think beyond what they know. She also created the ThedaCare Trauma Nursing Core Course program and nurse mentorship program, and was instrumental in the expansion of the birth center’s outpatient service line. Rosin is constantly living up to her personal mission of “patient care comes first.”
The prestigious Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice, named in honor of Florence Nightingale, recognizes some of Wisconsin’s best nurses for excellence in clinical nursing practice.
Sara Bronson
UWO alumna Sara Bronson ‘84 BSN and ‘14 MSN-CNL, was awarded the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. Bronson, of Kimberly, serves as a nurse practice specialist for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton and has made safety and high-quality medical care her top priority for over 37 years.
Bronson embodies the compassionate spirit and dedication of Florence Nightingale and is considered the “go-to” person for her peers when it comes to problem solving and best patient practices. She goes above and beyond what is expected of her, always making herself available to staff and leadership, day or night, to answer questions or to help navigate high-risk patient situations. Her passion for nursing excellence and her willingness to help anyone at any time has made her an incredible asset to the nursing profession.
Nursing Excellence Award Nominees include:
Sandy Munoz
As a certified wound care registered nurse, Sandy Munoz was instrumental in the development of the wound care program at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca just over five years ago. Now working within that program, Sandy cares for patients who have a broad range of medical and psychological illnesses that contribute to the way they experience their wound and ultimately how their wound heals. She adamantly reviews and addresses these factors with patients on their own terms in order to achieve the best possible results in wound healing. She also actively seeks out new research, guidelines and educational opportunities to bring the advantages of new evidence-based practice to her patients whenever possible. Her approach to specific, patient-oriented care as well as the completion of standard nursing care, is to be admired. With more than 15 years of nursing experience, Sandy routinely goes above and beyond for patients and within the organization to ensure her fellow community members’ needs are met.
Kelly Otto
Kelly serves as a registered nurse within the Family Birth Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. The unit is a fast-paced, high-risk unit with strong expectations for excellence, and Kelly continually goes above and beyond what is expected of her. Described as a team player, she mentors newer team members in an effective and non-judgmental manner. Also, in order to be able to support her peers during times of crisis, she sought out training for Critical Incident Stress Management and has in turn provided that support to the hospital and other hospitals within the system. Kelly is a great patient advocate who is excellent at identifying high-risk patients and collaborating with physicians, management, quality and care management to provide the best possible care plan for them. Always questioning why things are done a certain way and looking for ways to improve nursing practices, she never settles for the answer “that’s just how we do it”. She truly has patients’ best interest in mind at all times.
Lisa Wright
Lisa Wright serves as a cancer navigator at the ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center, providing support for patients and providers throughout the system. Working with patients with cancer takes a compassion and understanding that comes naturally to Lisa. She guides her patients through the health care system, helping them to overcome barriers to optimal care and taking the time to learn what patients’ needs and wishes are in order to advocate for them to their care team. Through every interaction she has with her patients, she is using her clinical expertise and training to guide patients and their caregivers to make informed decisions and improve patient outcomes. Lisa demonstrates extensive knowledge in cancer treatment and has good clinical judgement, ensuring that her patients are receiving the best possible care. She always goes above and beyond for patients. She leads a support group called Hope Cancer Connections that focuses on health options, providing infinite opportunities during and after cancer, finding peace within and continuing education.
ThedaCare congratulates all nurses who were honored this year. To learn more about the Nightingale Awards, please visit https://uwosh.edu/con/nightingale/.
