The March of Dimes, nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health, held its 13th annual Washington Nurse of the Year Awards November 13, recognizing the state’s top nurses in 19 categories for their work setting the standards of outstanding patient care. This year’s winners were:
- Education – Margie Bridges of Bellevue with Overlake Hospital Medical Center
- Public Health – Polly Taylor of Olympia with Washington State Department of Health
- Pediatric – Joan McDonagh of Seattle with Coe Elementary School
- Critical Care – Christa Arguinchona of Spokane with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
- Advanced Practice – Joya Pickett of Sammamish with Swedish Medical Center
- Women’s Health – Leondra Weiss of Seattle with Harborview Medical Center
- Clinical Care – Lisa Onstot of Shoreline with Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Distinguished Nurse of the Year – Dorothy Ruzicki of Spokane with Providence Health Care
- Rising Star – Aaron Cruz of Tacoma with St. Clare Hospital
- Emergency – Curtis Peek of Montesano with Summit Pacific Medical Center
- Front Line Leader – Trish Nilsen of Langley with Whidbey Family Birthplace
- Case Management & Care Coordination – Anne Reese of Seattle with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
- Long Term Acute Care & Rehabilitation – Mihkai Wickline of Seattle with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
- Nursing Administration – Judith Canfield of Everett with Providence Regional Medical Center – Everett
- Legend of Nursing – Peggy Mangiaracina of Spokane with Providence Sacred Heart & Children’s Hospital
- Hospice, Home Health & Palliative Care – Vernelda Savoy of Tacoma with Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care
- Surgical & Procedural Services – Marlene Elliott of Kettle Falls with Providence Mount Carmel Hospital
- Innovative & Non-Traditional Nursing – Robin Hollenhorst of Edmonds with Providence Regional Medical Center – Everett
- Advocacy for Patients – Teresa Forshag of Spokane with Partners with Families and Children
Congratulations to all of these deserving health care providers! Click here to read more from the March of Dimes news release. (Tim Pfarr)
