Intermountain Press Release

Provo, Utah—Intermountain Healthcare recognized 15 nurses for excellence at its 2006 Excellence in Nursing Awards for Utah County hospitals on May 3.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around," said, Gail McGuill, RN, CNAA, chief nursing officer for Intermountain's Urban South Region, at the awards dinner. "The nurses we honor tonight change lives every day because their true caring for patients and those around them shines through in all that they do."

Nurses were nominated by their colleagues for excellence in relationship based caring in at least three of seven criteria: patient focused, accountable, team oriented, individualized, evidence based, nurturing and total patient care.

The highest-scoring nurse from each of Intermountain Healthcare's Utah County hospitals will represent the region at Intermountain's system-wide luncheon for Excellence in Nursing on June 19: Ruth Caldwell, RN, from the Emergency Department at American Fork Hospital; Heather Marsten, BSN, RN, from Medical/Surgical and Women's Services at Orem Community Hospital; and Lynette Wasden, RN, CRRN, from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

2006 Intermountain Excellence in Nursing Award - Utah County Winners

American Fork Hospital

• Ruth Caldwell, Emergency Department
• Lou Gasser, Surgical Services
• Natell Hymas, Transitional Care Center

Orem Community Hospital

• Heather Marsten, Medical/Surgical and Women's Services
• Darlene Nelson, Women's Services

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center

• Mary Bentley, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
• Tracy Bunker, Same-Day Surgery
• Corey Carter, Infusion Services
• Tracy Carter, Newborn Intensive Care Unit
• Angie Kahoush, Intermountain University
• Audrey Kissling, Orthopedics/Neurology
• Maia Stoker, Diabetes Management Clinic
• Linda Swenson, Maternal/Fetal Medicine
• Lynette Wasden, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Jodi Weidman, Mother/Baby