The third cohort of the Distinguished Nursing Clinician Academy.
Last month, Penn Medicine’s Distinguished Nurse Clinician Academy inducted its latest members, chosen from throughout the Health System for their clinical excellence and their compassion for nursing.
“They have superb clinical knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors, and a willingness to pursue knowledge,” said Kathleen Burke, PhD, RN, corporate director of Nursing Professional Development and Innovation. “These are the nurses we aspire to be.”
“Nurses make critical decisions and assessments about what patients need and share them with the patient care team,” said Regina Cunningham, PhD, RN, HUP’s chief executive officer. “Tonight we honor our best direct-care nurses who inspire and motivate others. They are the kind of nurses who we would want to care for ourselves if we needed it or our loved ones, families, and friends.”
The Academy recognizes nurses who have chosen to continue to practice at bedside. Indeed, some of the new inductees have been bedside clinical nurses for more than 20 years. But, as Cunningham noted, with the increase in outpatient care, it is no longer only care at the inpatient bedside. It is also care at home and “chairside.”
The Distinguished Nurse Clinician Academy is based in part on Penn Medicine’s Academy of Master Clinicians, which John Glick, MD, president of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and VP of the Health System, helped create in 2013.
This year, the academy received 44 nominations, submitted by peers and colleagues. The newest members bring total Academy membership to 23.
New inductees in the Distinguished Nurse Clinician Academy include (from left): Kimberly Calhoun (PPMC), Nay Saechao (LGH), James Kurtz (PPMC), Christina Constans (PAH), Jacqueline Mellott (HUP), David Alfano (HUP), Nancy Mirachi (CCH), and Meg Garrett (CPUP). Missing from photo: Clarice Maggio.(CPUP).