Ten nurses from around the state have been chosen by their peers to receive a 2007 Governor's Nursing Merit Award.  The annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in patient care as well as in research, education and administration.

Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D.  honored New Jersey nurses and celebrated their accomplishments at a recent awards dinner in Princeton.

Through this awards program, New Jersey recognizes individual excellence in the nursing profession and  the vital contribution nurses make to the state’s healthcare system.

“Our health care system is under pressure,  making a nurse’s job more challenging than ever,” said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D.   “New Jersey’s talented nursing leaders and cadre of dedicated nurses can be a powerful force in helping us reshape the state’s health care system into one that offers patients high quality, affordable and accessible care.”  

The 10 nurses receiving awards are advanced practice nurses, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.  They work in hospitals, home care, community health and academic settings.

The Nursing Advisory Committee has recognized the state's distinguished nurses each year since 1989. The advisory committee is comprised of 16 nurses from throughout the state.  There are 132,000 licensed nurses in the state.

The following 10 nurses were chosen from among 90 nominees for the 2007 Governor's Nursing Merit Awards:

Advanced Practice Nurse

Barbara Welsh, MS, APRN, BC

Princeton

Fuld Campus of Capital Health Systems

Nurse Administrator

Linda Geisler, RN, MNEd, CNAA, BC

Newtown, PA

CentraState Medical Center

Nurse Educator

Gloria McNeal, PhD, APRN, BC, APN, C, FAAN

Burlington

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Nurse Researcher – Proficient

Susan Fowler, PhD, RN, CNRN, FAHA

Metuchen

Morristown Memorial Hospital

Licensed Practical Nurse – Acute Care

Constance Wilson, LPN

Ewing

St. Francis Medical Center

Licensed Practical Nurse – Post Acute Care

Shirley Bergen, LPN

Whippany

Atlantic Home Care and Hospice

Registered Professional Nurse – Acute Care

Barbara Ann Markt, BSN, RN, OCN, WOCN

Morristown

Morristown Memorial Hospital

Registered Professional Nurse – Community Health

Diane Hough, RNC, CPN

Lincoln Park

Chilton Memorial Hospital

Registered Professional Nurse – Manager, Acute Care

Ellen Barrington, MSN, RN, BC

Ocean Gate

Ocean Medical Center

Registered Professional Nurse – Manager, Post Acute Care

Christine Wade, BSN, RN, CRRN

Tinton Falls

JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute of Solaris Health

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