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“Nurses are the heart and soul of any health care experience and that is most certainly true of Christiana Care nurses,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of Christiana Care. “They make a lasting impression on our patients and families during some of the most sensitive and important times of their lives.”
Grace Ngamau, MSN, MSM/HCA, RN, a maternity nurse at Christiana Care, was nominated by one of her patients — a new mother — for teaching her how to properly care for her newborn. She won the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses this year in February. For the mother, Ngamau’s help was invaluable during these life-changing moments.
“Grace is a master at her job with the ability to help others remember knowledge they will use the rest of their lives,” the new mother wrote when she nominated Ngamau for the award. “All the staff was fantastic, but Grace stood out to us in the best way possible.”
For excellence in leadership, Deborah Ayres-Harding, MSN, RN- BC, assistant nurse manager of inpatient psychiatry, and Danielle Weber, MSN, MS, RN-BC, NEA-BC, interim vice president, Patient Care Services, were named by their peers as DAISY Leaders for their mentorship and example in providing expert, respectful care for patients and families.
Christiana Care’s forensic nurse examiners and intensive care unit staff at Wilmington Hospital have won the health system’s DAISY Team awards. The forensic nurse examiners were honored for their unique, powerful blend of compassion, skill and specialized care in supporting victims of violence and in leading programs to prevent abuse. The Wilmington Hospital intensive care unit was nominated by a patient’s spouse for the skill and compassion shown during his Nwife’s stay on the unit.
ationally, Christiana Care nurses have twice achieved Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the pre-eminent recognition for health systems in the United States. Christiana Care is
the only Delaware health system to earn this designation twice and among only 8 percent of hospitals nationally to hold the highest honor for excellence in nursing practice. Communities served by Magnet hospitals experience improved quality and safety of patient care, greater patient and family satisfaction and the recruitment and retention of top nursing talent.
Christiana Care nurses also have achieved excellence in critical care nursing with four Beacon Awards from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Delaware Nurse Association awards and top nurse recognitions.
Christiana Care Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cuming, Ed.D.,
RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, believes the value the nurses bring to the health system and community is immeasurable. “Our nurses are recognized by professional organizations and by the patients and families they serve for the safe, compassionate care experience they provide every day,” Cuming said. “These honors indicate that Delaware’s leading health system is among the best for quality and clinical excellence.” 
Generous gift recognizes nurses for making a difference
Arno “Skip” and Mary Loessner know well how caring and knowledgeable nurses can make an enormous difference to patients and their families. They experienced it firsthand when Skip was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and again in 2000. Throughout these difficult times, the Loessners found that the nursing staff at Christiana Care went above and beyond to provide excellent care.
“The nurses were exceptional and also very caring,” reflected Skip Loessner, a long-time Trustee. “They helped my family and me get through a difficult situation.”
To show their great appreciation for the care their whole family received from Christiana Care nurses — including excellent clinical support in the home from the Visiting Nurse Association — the Loessners established a fund to support professional practice education for nurses to further contribute to positive patient experiences.
“We think it’s important for nurses to know that the people they serve remember them,” he said. “We hope that our gift will inspire others to consider how they might like to give to the hospital in a way that is meaningful to them.”
Their gift also will help support the health system’s holistic shift to relationship-based care, which provides a compassionate, healing environment for patients, families and staff.
“The Loessners’ generous gift helps support the future of nursing care,” said Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cuming, Ed.D., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “When all members of the team are cared for, as in a relationship-based model, the result is a healthy working
environment where we are at our best, and can offer the best possible care to our
patients and their families.” 
| Nursing
FOCUS • MAY 2018 7