L+M Healthcare Announces 2021 Nursing Award Winners

New London, CT/Westerly, RI (June 4, 2021) – In virtual ceremonies at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M), Westerly Hospital (WH) and the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut (VNASC), 18 employees and one clinical department received awards recognizing their excellence in care.

Awards were given in five categories:

Nightingale Awards – given annually to nurses who have demonstrated excellence in nursing care, professionalism, innovative/clinical practice, a collaborative nursing environment and improving health of the community. T

his year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Monica Hamilton, BSN, RNC (Milford, CT), Anna Morgana, BSN, RN-BC (Groton, CT) and Laura Steel, BSN, RN (Mystic, CT)

• WH: Melanie Bowdy, BSN, RN (Westerly, RI) and Bethany Gingerella, MSN, RN (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Maggie LaFountain, BSN, RN (Pawcatuck, CT)

Interprofessional Collaboration Award – new this year, given to someone or a team that exemplifies the values of patient centered care, respect, compassion, integrity, and accountability.

This recent recipients are:

• L+M: Pharmacy Department

• WH: Ashley Izzi, mental health counselor (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Kendra Price, PT (Old Saybrook, CT)

Rising Star Award – new this year, is given to a nurse with less than two years of experience who exemplifies our values of patient centered care, respect, compassion, integrity and accountability.

The recent recipients are:

• L+M: Frank Robinson, BSN, RN (Groton, CT)

• WH: Jessica Williams, RN (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Katie Brule, BSN, RN (Norwich, CT)

Sunflower Awards – bestowed several times annually and recognize a patient care associate (PCA), certified nursing assistant (CNA) or hospital unit coordinator (HUC) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership by developing creative solutions and providing compassionate care to patients and families.

The recent recipients are:

• L+M: Yulonda Wilbur, PCA (Waterford, CT)

• WH: Lisa McKenna, CAN (Charlestown, RI)

• VNASC: Kelly Sylvia, Home Health Aide (Pawcatuck, CT)

DAISY Award – an internationally recognized award bestowed several times annually to a nurse who demonstrates extraordinary care and compassion with a patient and/or a patient’s family.

This recent recipients are:

• L+M: Patty Hightower, RN (Niantic, CT)

• WH: Antoinette (Toni) Gears, RN (Westerly, RI)

Westerly Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a 125-bed hospital that has been providing residents of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in a community hospital setting for 100 years. Westerly Hospital patients receive the finest quality treatment in the following areas of care: emergency, medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory and rehabilitative services. The hospital also offers heart and vascular care, interventional pain management, wound care, pulmonary rehabilitation services and inpatient geriatric psychiatric care. westerlyhospital.org

Lawrence + Memorial (L+M) Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital that has served patients since 1912. L+M is licensed for 308 beds, employs more than 2,000 people and serves shoreline towns between Rhode Island and the Connecticut River, as well as the residents of Fishers Island, NY. L+M provides comprehensive care with expertise in emergency, cardiac, minimally invasive surgery, obstetrics, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychiatric and laboratory services. The Smilow Cancer Hospital in Waterford provides medical oncology, gynecologic oncology and radiation oncology services.www.lmhospital.org