Houston Chronicle's 21St Annual Salute to Nurses Honors Exceptional Nurse

HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM HOUSTON CHRONICLE CUSTOM PUBLISHING GROUP SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021 HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S 21ST ANNUAL SALUTE TO NURSES HONORS EXCEPTIONAL NURSE HEROES By Alice Adams | FREELANCE WRITER Last year’s National Nurses Week theme “The Year of the Nurse” continues for 2021, with front-line nurse caregivers fi ghting to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020. Then, as a winter storm hit in February this year, Texas nurses were confronted with the great challenge of power outages and water shortages, but still rose to the challenge to provide top care for their patients. Aristotle Abad Karla Abela Danny Alvarez Debbie Barrera Andrew Bueno Memorial Hermann Texas Children’s Hospital Memorial Hermann Texas Children’s / Baylor Memorial Hermann Memorial City Main Campus Sugar Land Hospital College of Medicine Southeast Hospital Shannon Collins Cassandra Duran Jennifer Esparza Maureen Lall Giselle Long Houston Methodist Baylor College Memorial Hermann Houston Methodist UTMB Jennie Hospital of Medicine Southeast Hospital Sugar Land Hospital Sealy Hospital Khairunnisa Madhani Carolyn Phillips Kavitha Rajan Patricia Silva Karen Wondra Memorial Hermann UTMB School of Nursing TIRR Memorial Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital PhD Program Hermann Hospital Berthelsen Main Campus Clear Lake Hospital Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2021, is personal. I’m passionate about “Our nurses were willing “We give nurses the training, we serve,” Harrow said. brings to light a year that demand- people getting vaccinated, and in a mentoring and experience they Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, ed changes in safety protocols timely manner.” to do whatever it took to need for a rewarding career. Then, MSN, RN, dean of the Cizik School throughout the medical commu- She also explained how make sure our patients every nurse is free to tailor their of Nursing at UTHealth, said that nity, such as remote telehealth UT Physicians extends an overall responsibilities to achieve their own when looking at “the landscape patient visits, visitor limitations caring environment, not only for received the care they goals,” Harrow said, adding that of health care, nurses are at the and masking requirements. Along each patient, but to staff as well. needed, even if it meant the Houston Methodist iCARE val- forefront because of all they do and with patient care also came new du- “We’re family; COVID has made ues were made even more visible by their importance in our society. ties for diagnostic testing and, once us closer. We are working to defeat taking on diff erent roles the nurses’ response to COVID-19 Before college, I would watch vaccines became available, health the pandemic … in collaboration at to support that goal.” demands. commercials of ‘save the children, care professionals began vaccinat- every level,” she said. “This framework helped inform feed the children,’ and those images Andrea Harrow, VP of operations and chief nursing ing the public. A milestone for this vaccination offi cer, Houston Methodist Clear our day-to-day decisions,” she made me want to spend my work Lake Hospital Makita D. Franklin, RN, clinical eff ort was on April 9, 2021, when said, “and while the patient load life helping reach health equity.” educator at UT Physicians, the 71-year-old Beverly Hensley, who and the pandemic itself demanded Santa Maria said she saw 2021 Salute to Nurses Diamond had isolated in her home during fl exibility, creativity, and innovation COVID-19 as a once-in-a-lifetime Sponsor, said agility has been key the pandemic, was vaccinated but also for the community part- to overcome the sudden barriers opportunity for student nurses to in the fi ght against COVID-19. at the UTHealth Vaccine Hub. ners who continue to off er their we were having to overcome, our understand the rigors nurses face As a lead nurse at the UTHealth Franklin delivered that 100,000th support to hospital staff . nurses continued to go above and in a pandemic. Vaccine Hub, Franklin said getting vaccination. “It was totally unexpected, but beyond to deliver high quality and “Nurses are there at the best of vaccines into the arms of thousands “At every phase of the pandem- businesses sent food and other ‘high touch’ care, as much as was times and worst, and the future of of Houstonians required the eff orts ic, every step of the way to deliver- items. That was invaluable to our possible with full PPE.” nursing is secure because we see of UT Physicians nurses, as well ing the vaccine, nurses have been morale. We were not forgotten in In the beginning of the pandem- such good people coming into nurs- as student nurses volunteering working to make the hub happen,” the chaos of the pandemic,” Har- ic, Harrow said the hospital had to ing with the emotional intelligence from the Cizik School of Nursing at Franklin said. row said. “Nurses come to work at work with uncertainty about what to work in systems to provide the UTHealth. Salute to Nurses Presenting Houston Methodist because they they were dealing with. best patient care possible.” “We’ve all been working hard. Sponsor Houston Methodist’s An- know they will be respected, sup- “Our nurses were willing to “During the crisis point of Our job has been to educate drea Harrow, DNP, RN, FACHE, ported and given the opportunity do whatever it took to make sure COVID, one of the things you could residents, doctors, volunteers vice president of operations and to make a diff erence. Support our patients received the care they count on was that nurses would be and students to prepare them for chief nursing offi cer at Houston from the community only under- needed, even if it meant taking most creative and most innovative vaccinations … and then to set up Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, scored this.” on diff erent roles to support that in a challenge. Nurses will always the vaccine hub,” she said. “In June, has been a nurse for 31 years. Molding nurse staff members goal. Truly, it was a testament to run toward the problem and will be I was hospitalized with COVID, She off ered high praise, not only and helping them grow profession- the commitment of these dedicated there when the going gets tough,” so providing access to the vaccine for the hospital’s nursing staff , ally is key. men and women to the community Santa Maria added. See Top 15 Nurse winners, Page 2 PRESENTING SPONSOR DIAMOND SPONSOR H2 | Sunday, May 9, 2021 | HoustonChronicle.com | Houston Chronicle SALUTE TO NURSES Nurses were presented a 2021 Sponsors difference in the lives of personalized award and a Presenting Sponsor: patients and their families. $250 gift card, and three They are truly deserving of Houston Methodist exceptional nursing students this honor.” received a $1,000 schol- Diamond Sponsor: In addition, this year Awards event celebrates arship. UT Physicians Salute to Nurses is partnering This event is traditionally Gift Bag Sponsor: Texas with Susan Gibson, BMI held during National Nurses Children’s Hospital songwriter of the year for outstanding area nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, Education Sponsor: “Wide Open Spaces” by the to mark the birthday of Dixie Chicks, and her Com- San Jacinto College For the health care in- “nursing founder” Florence passionate Combat initiative. dustry, last year was like no Nightingale. Cookie Sponsor: “We are proud to help other, and nurses took their Every year, area hospitals, Memorial Hermann bring a larger voice to this care to another level. clinics, schools and patients Top 15 Nurses Sponsor: powerful initiative and Su- To recognize their service, are excited to recognize the U of H Nursing san’s commitment to nurses stamina and dedication, the most dedicated nurses in across Texas,” said Linda Dessert Sponsor: Houston Chronicle’s annual Houston's health care com- Schaible, VP of marketing Salute to Nurses Top 150 munity. The Top 150 nurses St. Luke’s Health and strategic development at nurse award nominations were selected by a panel of the Houston Chronicle. “Her flowed in, with nominations educators, professionals and site, CompassionateCombat- penned by medical profes- leaders in the field for their the Houston Chronicle. .com, houses the COVID sionals and patients from work. “During our Salute to Nurses stories of nurses and places a specialty clinics to communi- “Nurses are at the fore- celebration events, online point on the need for pro- ty health care centers, from Houston Chronicle Marketing front of dedicated health care and print sections, we will grams like Salute to Nurses suburban hospitals to the The Salute to Nurses drive-thru appreciation event in the greater Houston area, share their stories and cele- not only in Houston, but global health care leader was held on Thursday, May 6. and last year was an example brate 150 of Houston’s Top everywhere.” Texas Medical Center, and of how these professionals Nurses, and highlight the Top For more, visit chron.com/ from the region’s schools and safety measures, instead of a day, May 6, at the Houston deliver outstanding, compas- 15 nurses. All of our honorees salutetonurses2021. facilities. luncheon, a drive-thru cele- Chronicle. sionate care,” said Henry have been on the front lines Due to the pandemic and bration was held on Thurs- The exceptional Top 15 Ford, chief revenue officer at of the pandemic, making a — HC Custom Publishing Group new knowledge and use methods learned in doctoral programs Like many nurses, she sees her job as her contribution to Top 15 Nurses to propose methods to measure whether or not protocols are increasing the quality of life for patients, often beyond the working. research team and the research facility.

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