Each year, Palm Healthcare Foundation partners with NewsChannel 5 to highlight the Foundation and the Palm Beach Post's Nurse Distinction Awards.
These awards recognize outstanding individuals who demonstrate dedication to excellence and commitment to the nursing profession.
Roxanne Stein introduces us to one award winner who finds that success comes when you include your co workers.
"Everything OK...”
Walking the floors and visiting with patients and nurses at the new Heart Institute at Bethesda Memorial Hospital is typical for Geralyn Lunsford.
"Do you need anymore of these? By the way, no we have plenty, ok...”
Working with the 800 nurses at Bethesda is just one of Geralyn's many jobs as Vice President of Patient Service and Chief Nursing Officer-but she started on the floor as an RN 30 years ago.
"I always had a passion to help others and what better ways than thru the nursing profession where you can follow your passion of providing care and making a difference in helping others."
Though she doesn't take care of patients on a full time basis any longer, Geralyn stays in touch..with patients, and staff.
"I like to make rounds on all my nursing units I go around and ask them what more can I do for you. How is your day going what more can I provide for you..that will optimize your day and provide satisfaction in your work environment."
24 vs., prior day..which is prior day to them? Oh, good point, if we can clarify, let's talk about this at 7:30 meeting."
That concern went beyond routine when Geralyn asked nurses to 'design' their floors at the new heart institute.
"We created pods or nursing units, every 3-4 rooms."
"You can see a patient from each of the rooms from the pods."
Listening to and caring for her staff helped to earn Geralyn the Nurse Leader of The Year award for 2007..one her staff says is well deserved.
It's such a great thing to go to Geralyns office and say, I have this problem, what can we do to fix it.."
To Geralyn, that's all in a days work.
"I believe if you care about people and take care of them they'll take care of you.."
This year's Palm Healthcare Foundation's and the Palm Beach Post's Nurse Distinction Awards recipients will be recognized May 9th at the Breakers.
