FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Blanchfield Army Community Hospital nurses kicked off Nurses Week May 6 with Opening Ceremonies honoring contributions of nurses for the year. The week will hold daily celebrations from bagel breakfast, an ice cream social with continuing education opportunities and culminating with a Zumba event to wind down activities Friday.
BACH's Deputy Commander for Nursing Col. Peter Kubas presented 30-year registered nurse preceptor Ricarda Johnson with the BACH Preceptor of the Year Award. The preceptor is an experienced registered nurse who helps teach nursing students or new nurses to Army Medicine about learning and growing as a nurse supporting Army Medicine.
Registered nurse Rose Parkerson nominated Johnson for the award.
"She inspires me through her interactions with the soldiers every day to grow and learn as much as I can as a new Nurse Case Manager," Parkerson said.
Parkerson, who works as a Nurse Case Manager supporting Warrior Transition Battalion soldiers, stated that Johnson comprehends complex situations well and encourages her to perform her best and has modeled her own work style after hers.
"I have watched her repeatedly transition soldiers from the military life to be productive members of the civilian community," said Parkerson.
Operating room nurse Ronna Stanislav was awarded both the quarterly and annual Nurse Excellence Award today. BACH's Chief of Anesthesia Nursing Lt. Col. Lori Friz nominated Stanislav for the Nurse Excellence Award.
According to Friz, "Ronna Stanislav is professional and reliable and demonstrates all the characteristics of a great nurse."
Stanislav routinely takes the initiative to organize operating room training needs which improves the standard of care BACH patients receive. "She promotes the Patient CaringTouch System values and participation, promoting job satisfaction and morale," said Friz.
BACH commander Col. Paul R. Cordts ended the ceremony telling nurses about a story that continues to impact him as a commander. A personal note he received from a family who chose to obtain care from the inpatient nurses at BACH during a critical life experience. "This is a direct reflection of the type of compassionate care that you, nurses, provide our soldiers, retirees and their families," said Cordts.
The ceremony ended with a cake cutting honoring all nurses.