Bristol Hospital recognized several nurses Tuesday evening during the third annual Nursing Dinner at the DoubleTree in Bristol.
“They’re grateful to disconnect and reconnect, and they feel appreciated,” said Chris Ann Meaney, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Bristol Hospital.
Meaney said 150 nurses turned out for the celebration - held during National Nurses Week - which is meant to recognize their hard work.
Nancy LaMonica, director of clinical excellence, added that nurses in the hospital, working in different units, sometimes don’t get a chance to interact with one another.
“It’s a time when we can connect with each other,” LaMonica said of the dinner at the DoubleTree.
In 2018, Bristol Hospital was the number one hospital in the state at preventing hospital-acquired infections, something Kurt Barwis, president and CEO, credits to the nursing staff.
“It compares nationally in the top percentile,” Barwis said.
The celebration on Tuesday included a photo booth, cocktail hour and a sit-down dinner.
During the evening, Rachel Calvo was named the Rising Star; Elaine Demeo was given the Interprofessional Collaboration award; Angela Gallacher was named the Preceptor of the Year; Jenny Cinquemani was given the Transformational Leadership award; and the Intensive Care Unit was recognized for its Clinical Excellence Outcomes.
Glenn Heiser, chairman of the Bristol Hospital Board of Directors, said a few words about nurses during the celebration.
“Most of your interactions are with the nurses as opposed to the physicians,” Heiser said. Being a nurse, he continued, requires skills that not all people have.
“You have to be compassionate, caring and have to listen very well,” Heiser added. “It’s a calling.”
“They put other people first,” the chairman of the board said. “That’s the thing that amazes me.”
Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.