TRENTON - Nine of the state's outstanding nurses were honored at the annual Governor's Nursing Merit Awards Dinner on June 2 at the Westin Hotel in Princeton Forrestal Village.

 

Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. presented the Governor's Nursing Merit Awards to the nurses for their accomplishments and service in the areas of patient care, nurse education, nursing research and administration. Nurses working in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health agencies were among those recognized.

 

"Nurses are critical to effective health care, playing vital roles in direct care of patients, coordination of the health care team, and patient advocacy," said Dr. Lacy.  "These nine award recipients are outstanding individuals and are representative of the many excellent and dedicated nursing professionals in our state."

 

The Nursing Advisory Committee has recognized the state's distinguished nurses each year since 1989. The following nurses, with their hometowns noted in parentheses, have received the 2004 Governor's Nursing Merit Award:

Advanced Practice Nurse – Rosemarie Hertting, RN, MSN, APN, C, CHPN, (Wall), Monmouth Medical Center – Long Branch

Licensed Practical Nurse -- Acute Care – Zora Railey, LPN, (Asbury Park), Monmouth Medical Center – Long Branch

Licensed Practical Nurse – Assisted Living – June A. Hetzel, LPN, (Neptune), Blythe House of Tinton Falls

Licensed Practical Nurse - Community Health – Valerie Fryar, LPN, (Somerset), St. Peter’s University Hospital – New Brunswick

Licensed Practical Nurse - Long Term Care – Caron St. John, LPN, (Little Egg Harbor), Southern Ocean County Hospital – Manahawkin

Nurse Administrator – Richard Hader, PhD, RN, MSN, CHE, CAN, CPHQ (Jackson), Jersey Shore University Medical Center - Neptune

Nurse Educator – Lucille Ann Joel, RN, EdD, FAAN, (Oradell), College of Nursing, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey – Newark

Registered Professional Nurse - Acute Care -- Susan J. Sauchelli, RN, BSN, CNOR (Whippany), Morristown Memorial Hospital - Morristown

Registered Professional Nurse - Community Health – Doris A. Jordan, RN, (Allenwood), Visiting Nurses Association of Central Jersey - Red Bank

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