| Jenkins will join 14 awardees from regional hospitals and agencies
Ravenna, Ohio, Oct. 16, 2009 – Robinson Memorial Hospital recently selected Sandra Jenkins, RN, to attend The University of Akron’s Cameos of Caring nursing gala on Saturday. The Cameos program is presented by the College of Nursing and will recognize 14 excellent nurses from 12 regional hospitals and agencies. Each designee receives a crystal statue for demonstrating excellence in nursing care, encouraging and motivating others, serving as an effective advocate for patients and families and acting as a role model for the nursing profession.
“[Jenkins] emanates genuine kindness and understanding, and patients recognize these qualities,” wrote coworker Cynthia Stuart, RN, in Jenkins’s nomination form. “She is requested by many returning patients because she previously...eased their transition into surgery.”
Jenkins has been a nurse for more than 47 years and an outpatient surgical nurse at Robinson Memorial Hospital for 24 years this month. Her job is to start IVs, complete pre-op testing for certain patients and prepare patients to enter surgery. She also answers patient questions and involves families as needed. Jenkins says the best part of her job is when patients remember her from a previous surgery.
“Everyone comes in and is a little nervous,” Jenkins said. “I do the best I can to allay those fears and answer their questions. I let patients know that we care and we want the best outcome for them. Sometimes a warm blanket is all it takes.”
Jenkins said she was inspired to become a nurse after hearing stories from her aunt, who was a surgical technician.
“The medical field always sounded interesting and exciting,” Jenkins said. “My job has been very rewarding. I care a lot about this. I’m very grateful to be working at Robinson and feel it is truly a great place to work. It feels like family. The nurses I work with are very dedicated people.”
Jenkins lives in Aurora and enjoys spending time with her three sons, two daughter-in-laws and five grandchildren.
The Cameo awards were designed to draw attention to nursing careers, the nation’s top profession in terms of projected job growth. Analysts predict the nursing shortage could be as high as 260,000 by 2025.
This is the fifth year Robinson Memorial Hospital has participated in Cameos of Caring. Previous honorees include Holly Quinn, RN; Paula Ackerson, RN; Cathy DeLair, RN, OCN; and Mary Beth Penkala, RN, CNS, MSN. This year’s nominees from Robinson Memorial Hospital were:
• Toni Libby, RN, Medical/Surgical Nursing
• Ami Wagner, RN, 3 East
• Denise Dues, RN, 2 East
• Kellyann Wiles, RN, The Birth Center at Robinson
• Mary Clark, RN, The Birth Center at Robinson
• Kathy DeSenze, RN, Step Down Unit
• Robin Martinelli, RN, Coronary Care Unit
• Lisa Klasic, RN, Coronary Care Unit
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