Gail Dierker, Chestertown nurse, honored at Nurse Excellence Awards

Chestertown Nurse Honored at UM Shore Regional Health’s Annual Nurse Excellence Awards Event
Gail Dierker, staff nurse in the Same Day Surgery Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, was among the honorees at UM Shore Regional Health’s 2017 Nurse Excellence Awards Celebration, which took place on Monday, May 8, 2018 at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College.

Photo: UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown staff nurse Gail Dierker, second from the right, won the “Commitment to Others” award, presented at the recent 2018 UM Shore Regional Health Nurse Excellence Award Celebration. From left to right are Ruth Ann Jones, senior vice president, Patient Care Services and CNO (far left) and three other winners of individual awards: Maddie Steffens, coordinator Shore Regional Palliative Care program; Brian Clark, staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton; and Katherine Jones, orthopedic team lead in Surgical Services, Shore Medical Center at Easton. At far right is Ken Kozel, UM Shore Regional president and CEO. Not shown: Marcia Shapiro, staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Emergency Department. — UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown staff nurse Gail Dierker, second from the right, won the “Commitment to Others” award, presented at the recent 2018 UM Shore Regional Health Nurse Excellence Award Celebration. From left to right are Ruth Ann Jones, senior vice president, Patient Care Services and CNO (far left) and three other winners of individual awards: Maddie Steffens, coordinator Shore Regional Palliative Care program; Brian Clark, staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton; and Katherine Jones, orthopedic team lead in Surgical Services, Shore Medical Center at Easton. At far right is Ken Kozel, UM Shore Regional president and CEO. Not shown: Marcia Shapiro, staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Emergency Department. – Contributed Photo

Dierker received the award, “Commitment to Others,” which had garnered a total of nine nominations. A Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) and an RN III in the Professional Advancement Program, Dierker was chosen on the basis of her positive communications with all team members as well as her patients, her engagement in orienting new staff, and her dedication to ensuring that patients’ needs are met. Also cited was her participation on the Unit Based Council, which develops and improves patient care processes that help to improve patient outcomes.

The Nurse Excellence Awards presentation was led by Ruth Ann Jones, UM Shore Regional Health’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. In her remarks, Jones noted that 2017 marks the seventh anniversary of the Nurse Excellence Awards and that this year’s honorees were selected from a total of 36 individual nominations and three unit/department nominations. “This awards program was established by nurses and for nurses as a way to recognize those who go above and beyond to always deliver exceptional care,” said Jones.

In her remarks opening the ceremony, Jones noted that 2018 marked the seventh anniversary of the Nurse Excellence Awards. “This awards program was established by nurses and for nurses as a way to recognize those who go above and beyond to always deliver exceptional care,” Jones said.
Ken Kozel, UM SRH president and CEO, and John Dillon, chairman of the UM SRH Board, also spoke during the ceremony, thanking the outstanding dedication of the 600-plus nurses serving patients in inpatient and outpatient care programs throughout the five county region.
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