Marie Stelmach, RN, CIC

Barbara Lotterer, RN

Renee Phillips, RN

Buffalo, NY, May 6, 2002 - The theme of National Nurses Week 2002 is "Nurses Caring for America." This week, Kaleida Health honors the approximately 4,000 members of the nursing staff at Western New York's largest health care system. A series of activities culminates Friday, May 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. with a Nurses Recognition Reception in Swift Auditorium at Buffalo General Hospital, 100 High Street.

This year, Kaleida recognizes a number of registered and licensed practical nurses, with special kudos to three women who personify the best of their profession: Marie Stelmach, RN, CIC, of Cheektowaga, an infection control nurse; Barbara Lotterer, RN, of Lancaster, a home care nurse, and Renee Phillips, RN, of Tonawanda, a staff nurse at DeGraff Memorial Hospital.

Stelmach is Kaleida's 2002 Nurse of Distinction. She is well known as a leader and role model in assuring fellow employees are knowledgeable and current on infection control standards. In her role as a member of the system's Emergency Preparedness Team, she teaches emergency room staff to prepare for and manage biological terrorism threats. Working for Kaleida's school-based health clinics, she developed an improved hand-washing program to benefit students, families and staff. She was instrumental in the formation of the Western New York chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and is certified to teach the New York State Infection Control Course.

Recognized by the Visiting Nursing Association (which provides home care services as part of Kaleida Health) as Nurse of Distinction is Barbara Lotterer, R.N., B.S.N. Barbara's commitment to excellence in nursing is a source of inspiration to her colleagues. She has been a staff development specialist and information systems technology (IST) process architect at the VNA. In her staff development role, she was instrumental in developing staff orientation programs and facilitating student nurse affiliations and staff inservice education programs. In her IST position, she works on the development and implementation of laptop and other computer applications that enhance the efficiency of patient home care services.

Kaleida's 2002 Outstanding Staff Nurse is Renee Phillips, R.N., staff nurse on the fourth floor ICU step-down unit at DeGraff Memorial Hospital. She has served as co-leader in working toward a patient centered care program, which has resulted in the opening of a new patient/family waiting area, as well as enhanced patient communication items. She has completed the Kaleida critical care course and earned credentials to read telemetry monitors. She is currently attending the University at Buffalo in pursuit of her bachelor's degree in nursing.

Other Kaleida nominees for 2002 Nurse of Distinction were:

Cynthia Baker, R.N., Emergency Department, DeGraff Memorial Hospital; Linda Bush, R.N., Kaleida Health School Health Program; Colleen Dowd, R.N., critical care, Buffalo General Hospital; Lynn Kordasiewicz, R.N., enterostomal therapist, Buffalo General Hospital; Paula Quesinberry, R.N., Jacobs Neurological Institute, Buffalo General Hospital; Donna Slawek, R.N., women's health, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, and Denise Vitale, R.N., surgery, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

Other Kaleida nominees for 2002 Outstanding Staff Nurse were:

Michele Allen, R.N., 4th floor, DeGraff Memorial Hospital; Amy Ceisner, R.N., 2 North, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; Mary Czosek, R.N., 14 North, Buffalo General Hospital; Mary Jo Johnston, R.N., Surgical ICU, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital; Andrea Luce, R.N., 2 North, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; Janice Miller, R.N., 2 North, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; Patricia Ostertag, R.N., Emergency Department, DeGraff Memorial Hospital; Lorraine Paperski, R.N., Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York, and Diane Pazderski, R.N., Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Buffalo General Hospital.

Nominated as Kaleida's Outstanding Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) were:

Barbara Allen, L.P.N., Deaconess Family Medicine, Deaconess Center; Carole Bellavia, L.P.N., Hand Center of WNY, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital; Cynthia Chazen, L.P.N., Mother Baby Unit, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; Jean Dusch, L.P.N., Post Anesthesia Care Unit, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo; Darnel Eady, L.P.N., 6th floor, Deaconess Center; Angela Esquilin, L.P.N., Niagara Family Health Care, Columbus Community Health Center; Jean Fitch, L.P.N., Gates Circle Health Group, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital; Catherine Gamel, L.P.N., Emergency Department, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital; Barbara Hall, L.P.N., float nurse, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital, and Loretta Herdzik, L.P.N., Pediatric Specialty Clinic, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

Also, Alisha Holmes, L.P.N., Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York; Thomas Maziaz, L.P.N., Community Mental Health Center Pharmacy, Buffalo General Hospital; Denise Pohlman, L.P.N., Deaconess Family Medicine, Deaconess Center; Patricia Rice, L.P.N., 13 South, Buffalo General Hospital; Jackie Sayeta, L.P.N., SNF, DeGraff Memorial Hospital; Janet Simmons, L.P.N., 9 North, Buffalo General Hospital; Kathleen Sorce, L.P.N., Neonatal ICU, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo; Tracey Terry, L.P.N., GI Unit, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital; Amy Tollar, L.P.N., SNF, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, and Helen Washington, L.P.N., Jesse Nash Clinic.

Approximately a dozen area elected officials will participate during this week in Kaleida's "Shadow A Nurse" program, spending an hour of time with nurses on various nursing units throughout Kaleida's hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and ambulatory sites. They join Kaleida administrators and managers who annually participate in "Shadow A Nurse" to gain a first-hand understanding of the role of the nurse in his or her daily work.

Also on the agenda are breakfasts and ice cream socials for nurses and gift basket auctions, as well as educational displays on nursing and patient care in various specialty areas.

Kaleida's Nurses of Distinction, Outstanding Staff Nurse and Outstanding LPN nominees will be honored at the Friday, May 10 reception at Buffalo General. Keynote Speaker will be Mary Lou Rusin, Ed.D., M.S., R.N., Professor and Chair, Nursing Department, Daemen College. Rusin's presentation will be entitled "Riding the Whitewaters of Change" and will help prepare nurses for the opportunities created by change in their profession and in society. Rusin will present this in a lighthearted, historical context, tracing the history of nursing from "the starched white caps of the past to today's 'scrubs attired' nurses." She also will trace the contributions to society made by such nursing leaders as Florence Nightingale, Dorothea Dix and Margaret Sanger.