Nurse

Hagerstown Community College recently held a nurse-pinning ceremony to recognize graduates of its fall nursing class. In the associate degree nursing program, the following graduates received their nursing pins: Chambersburg, Pa. - Tracey L. Schultz Emmitsburg, Md. - Ashley N. Coleman Fayetteville, Pa. - Ashley L. Barnes Frederick, Md. - Kimberly McDonald Greencastle, Pa. - Leanna Hollingshead, Stephanie A. Ocker, Ann L. White ...

Mettie Sheetz, a long-time member of the Washington Square United Methodist Church in West Hagerstown, recently shared some wonderful stories about the history of the Washington County Hospital and her time working there. Mettie's hospital employment began in 1959. She worked as a nurse's aide until her retirement in 1982. Mettie was trained by a wonderful nurse named Virginia Fiery, who in her words “was an angel.” The hospital gave employees their uniform and hers was a starched yellow dress with a white apron, hosiery and white shoes.

City Hospital's Nurse Work Life Council named Diane Turner as the recipient of the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses for the fourth quarter of 2011. Turner, a nurse on the second-flood oncology unit at City Hospital, was presented the award during a recent ceremony at the hospital. She received a certificate, along with a sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The DAISY, or Diseases Attacking the Immune System, Award, was established nationally to recognize the superhuman efforts nurses perform every day. Nurses at WVUH-East's City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital are being honored throughout the year with the award.

Cheryl Deaner, RN, was named City Hospital's Quality Service Award winner for October. Each month, the hospital's Service Award Committee selects an employee to receive the Quality Service Award. Deaner, a registered nurse in the outpatient chemotherapy and vascular therapy department, was nominated by one of her co-workers, who stated, “Cheryl helped with patient education on Hickman cath care. Not only did she put the patient at ease, but she noticed the patient's arm was red and swollen.

City Hospital's Nurse Work Life Council named Barbara Brooks, a registered nurse from the observation unit at the hospital, as the recipient of the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses for the second quarter of 2011. The award was presented to Brooks during a recent ceremony at the hospital. She received a certificate, along with a sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The DAISY, or Diseases Attacking the Immune System, Award was established nationally to recognize the super-human efforts nurses make every day.  Nurses at WVUH-East's City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital are being honored throughout the year with the award.

Terri Shiffler, RN, was named City Hospital's Quality Service Award winner for December. Each month, the hospital's Service Award Committee selects an employee to receive the award. Shiffler, a nurse on the sixth-floor telemetry unit, was nominated by one of her co-workers, who stated, “Terry is one of the best at cardiac care. She recently worked with me to care for a patient experiencing cardiac issues on the fifth-floor medical/surgical unit. Patient safety is clearly her top priority, and she treats all co-workers as a member of the team.” Criteria for selection as a Quality Service Award recipient includes demonstrating a consistently high level of productivity and quality of work, along with a high degree of initiative in performing work responsibilities; displaying exceptional dependability; exhibiting effective relationships with others; displaying a commitment to service and serving the City Hospital community; and meeting the criteria for the WVUH-East mission, vision and values.

Name of business: Stepping Stone Health Owner: Lori Schellenberg Opening date: April 6, 2012 Products and services: Nursing case management services/nutritional health coaching, providing individualized tools and support for rapid and permanent weight loss, including several programs offering services to achieve weight loss of up to 30 pounds in 30 days. We also offer ancillary services to include initial and ongoing nutritional and health assessments, personalized nurse case-management support and health/nutrition coaching, nutrition and cooking classes, exercise programs and community support groups.

A Hagerstown nurse has been named Maryland Worker of the Year by the Dickies Workwear Co. Gail Stoner, 44, was nominated by her husband, Gregory, who wrote that "she is a true Florence Nightingale and a beautiful angel to her patients, young and old. " As a state winner, Stoner will receive more than $500 in prizes and cash, according to company spokesman Kristen Kauffman at the parent company in Fort Worth, Texas.

Nurse sentenced for stealing painkiller tablets By JULIE E. GREENE / Staff Writer A registered nurse who pleaded guilty to stealing seven narcotic painkiller tablets meant for patients was given probation before judgment in Washington County District Court Thursday. Judge R. Noel Spence placed Barbara Jean Tingle, 50, of 18304 Woodside Drive in Hagerstown, on supervised probation for one year and ordered her to submit to drug testing. Spence suspended half of a $500 fine.

Nurse pleads to pill theft By MARLO BARNHART / Staff Writer Washington County District Judge Noel Spence ordered a pre-sentence investigation into the background of a registered nurse Thursday after the woman pleaded guilty to stealing seven narcotic painkiller tablets meant for patients. Barbara Jean Tingle had 30 years of experience in the birthing center at Washington County Hospital when she was charged with misdemeanor theft and prescription fraud on April 18. "I'm interested in knowing about possible addiction ... I want a full picture," Spence said.

Teresa Dienst, RN, was named Berkeley Medical Center's Quality Service Award winner for April. Each month, the hospital's Service Award Committee selects an employee to receive the award. Dienst, a clinical coordinator and staff nurse on the fifth-floor medical/surgical unit, was selected because of the excellent care she provides to her patients. “She is a positive role model and demonstrates teamwork consistently,” one of her co-workers wrote, adding, “Teresa is an exceptional nurse and leader, and goes above and beyond for her patients and co-workers.

Buyers are being sought for the Franklin County-owned Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A consultant for the Franklin County Commissioners has identified about 10 private companies that could be interested in acquiring the nursing home, which could sell for an estimated $6.5 million to $9.3 million based on market values of similar facilities. Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Franklin Farm Lane has 186 beds in shared rooms and 223 employees.

University Healthcare's Jefferson Medical Center named Kristy Brown, a registered nurse in the Special Care Unit, as the recipient of the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses for the first half of 2013. The award was presented to Brown during a recent ceremony at the hospital. She received a certificate, along with a sculpture called “A Healer's Touch,” which was carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The DAISY, or Diseases Attacking the Immune System, award was established nationally to recognize the superhuman efforts nurses perform every day. Nurses at University Healthcare's Berkeley Medical Center and Jefferson Medical Center are being honored throughout the year with the award, which is being sponsored by the University Healthcare foundations.

In more than 10 years at Safe Place, Washington County's child advocacy center, forensic nurse Joyce Williams has seen her share of child-abuse injuries. “It's sad when you see the child, but, because of Safe Place, the child gets the help and resources they need,” said Williams, who along with Dr. Ruth Dwyer have performed more than 600 medical examinations on abused children from Washington County at Safe Place. Williams soon will leave the center to move to Malaysia to work on a special project with the Normah Specialist Medical Center.  “It's really bittersweet,” Williams said.

Hagerstown Community College recently held a nurse pinning ceremony to recognize graduates of its spring 2013 nursing class. In the associate degree nursing program, the following graduates received their nursing pins: Boonsboro - Jessica M. Deuel, Christina M. Scuderi, Catherine I. Szuchnicki, Jetta R. Williams Cascade - Carrie M. Messner Chambersburg, Pa. - Dustin R. Berklite, Matthew E. Hopkins, Catharine M. Kunkleman Clear Spring...

Hagerstown Community College will hold its fourth annual Quest for Excellence Nursing Simulation Conference on Tuesday, June 4, and Wednesday, June 5, in the Elliott Center on HCC's main campus. Sponsored by the Maryland Community Colleges Simulation Users Network, the  conference is intended for community college faculty, lab coordinators, lab technicians, and those working in nursing and allied health programs who are interested in incorporating simulation into their course curricula.

In celebration of National Nurses Week, Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va., named its winners of the Nursing Excellence Awards at a May 10 ceremony in the Byrd Center auditorium.  

The nursing students from Towson University at University System of Maryland at Hagerstown attended and participated in the Health Occupations Students of America  competition as judges for the state event on April 18. It was the 34th annual state leadership conference, which was held in Lancaster, Pa. The health occupations program is a national organization and leadership component for future health care professionals in both secondary and...

Karen Castle and Helena Burnette were named City Hospital's Quality Service Award winners for March. Each month, the hospital's Service Award Committee selects an employee to receive the award. In March, two nursing assistants from the fifth-floor medical/surgical unit were selected. Castle and Burnette were nominated by a patient for their care, and for going the extra mile to lift her spirits and help provide support. “Through their actions and help, they have shown me that they care so much and are both so special,” the patient wrote.

For most people, home means familiar faces, rooms filled with years of memories and a measure of control over one's life. But for many older adults, home is confined to four walls in an institutional setting, where you learn to navigate a wheelchair along crowded hallways, try to sleep through night checks and become attuned to the emotions and habits of fellow residents. Placing a loved one in a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions anyone will ever make. It's not always a choice.