NANB Recognizes Five Individuals for Their
Contribution to Nursing and the Nursing Profession
FREDERICTON, May 31, 2017 – This evening, the Nurses Association of New
Brunswick (NANB) will honour five outstanding individuals nominated by
nurses who recognize those who champion nursing and the health profession
at an awards banquet at the Delta Hotel Fredericton.
“Whether on the front-lines, in administration, education or research; delivering
excellence in patient care, is what nurses do every day,” says Brenda Kinney,
President of NANB. “This is a time to celebrate and acknowledge those who
strive to improve health care delivery and current and former members of the
profession who promote public health awareness.”
Award of Merit: Nursing Practice
This year’s Award of Merit: Nursing Practice goes to Rejeanne (RJ) Power,
RN, Miramichi. For over 10 years, RJ has been a charge nurse at Mount Saint
Joseph Nursing Home. She is in charge of a 36-bed nursing unit which
includes a 15 bed Special Needs Unit. This Special Needs Unit is designated
for those residents who are under 60 years of age who have severe, chronic
physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, and who cannot be managed in
the community. There are only two such units in the province of New
Brunswick.
In addition, Mount Saint Joseph was asked to participate in a pan-Canadian
project, looking at the appropriate use of anti-psychotic medication. This
project is a collaborative initiative between the New Brunswick Association of
Nursing Homes and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.
RJ was one of two leads for this initiative and demonstrated leadership in
putting a multi-disciplinary team together, as well as developing and providing
several education sessions for all staff. Through RJ’s leadership, it is expected
that the way resident-focused care is provided throughout the facility, will be
transformed.
Award of Merit: Administration
Darline Cogswell, RN, Oromocto, is presented with the Award of Merit:
Administration. Darline works in the role of Facility Manager and ER Nurse
Manager at the Oromocto Public Hospital. Darline’s advocacy role extends a
number of organizations including NBNU, WorkSafe NB, Oromocto Hospital
Foundation and in many volunteer capacities with NANB.
A successful administrator, Darline has: added LPNs to the nursing staff at
Oromocto Public Hospital; piloted projects on assessing, treating and
discharging non-urgent patients at multiple hospitals; organized ED managers
from both health authorities to form an NANB Interest Group; and the list of
accomplishments goes on
Award of Merit: Research
Recipient of this year’s Award of Merit: Research is Dr. Suzanne DupuisBlanchard, RN, Dieppe, is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Nursing
and Director of the Centre for Aging Research at the Université de Moncton.
In 2014, Suzanne became a research associate with the University of New
Brunswick and attained national recognition when she was named research
chair for the Consortium national de la formation en santé Université de
Moncton Research Chair, in Population Aging. More recently, Suzanne was
named co-chair of the New Brunswick government’s Council on Aging with the
objective of developing a provincial strategy on aging for the province of New
Brunswick. Having received over $800,000 in grants researching such themes
as wellness, dementia, long-term care, the age-friendly municipality concept,
services in French to an aging population, care for seniors losing their
independence and keeping them in their own home and the social involvement
of seniors.
Life Membership Award
Lynn Lawson, RN, Saint John, is this year’s recipient of NANB Life
Membership Award. Lynn’s career has spanned 46 years, beginning at the
Saint John General Hospital School of Nursing, to certification in occupational
health nursing becoming skilled in the delivery of critical incidence stress
debriefing, and developed and facilitated many health and wellness initiatives.
She began her career in obstetrics and neonatal intensive care before
transitioning into the community for twenty years with the Victorian Order of
Nurses. Lynn went on to complete her Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of
Education in Guidance and Counseling. Soon after, Lynn opened an
independent nursing counseling practice focused on bereavement support.
Lynn also wrote a children’s book on grief and loss and organized a
conference on sudden loss, for health care workers. While acting as the
Executive Director of a non-profit organization, Lynn became very involved in
her community serving on many boards including: Hospice of Greater Saint
John; the Alzheimer’s Society; the Canadian Mental Health Association; the
YMCA; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; the VON; and became the first female
president of the Kiwanis Club of Saint John.
As Nurse Manager and Wellness Coordinator at the Loch Lomond Villa, she
was featured in an article by the Telegraph Journal, highlighting her
contribution to health and wellness in the older population. Lynn returned to
the care of this demographic as a foot care clinician and instructor, as well as
an educator of personal support workers. Lynn’s career path truly demonstrates the diversity of nursing and the opportunities we as nurses have to impact others.
Honorary Membership Award
A rare recognition, this year’s Honorary Membership Award goes to Gary
Hughes, Curator of History and Technology at the New Brunswick Museum,
Saint John.
The purpose of an NANB Honorary Membership is to recognize the valuable
assistance to the nursing profession by a member of the public, who has
performed meritorious services on behalf of registered nurses and Nursing.
As the largest and longest running exhibit at the NB Museum, Gary Hughes
was integral to bringing the Nursing History Exhibit to reality. Originally housed
at the NANB office in Fredericton, under the direction of Dr. Arlee Hoyt McGee,
the Nursing Resource Centre was established in 1992 and turned over to Gary
and his team in 2006.
Gary’s vision for the potential of the Nursing Collection came to fruition with the
development of two Nursing history exhibitions, which were showcased during
the NANB Centennial Celebrations in 2016.
“As an RN, and President of the NANB, witnessing this extraordinary
interpretation of the nursing profession and its evolution over the years is
remarkable,” says Kinney. “We are so grateful to the NB Museum for
continuing Arlee’s legacy and bringing this exhibit to life during our Centennial,
for nurses, patients, families and friends to enjoy.”
The NANB Awards Banquet begins at 07:00 at the Delta Hotel Fredericton.
Click here for the original press release.