FHCA recently recognized the winners of the 2018 Long Term Care Excellence in Nursing Awards. The awards were presented by FHCA President John Simmons during the Nurse Leadership Program in St. Pete Beach.
Theresa Finn, Director of Nurses at Port Orange Health and Rehab Center, earned the 2018 Nurse Administrator of the Year Award. Theresa has been at Port Orange Health and Rehab for over 8 years. She quickly rose to the position of Director of Nursing because of her leadership skills and the level of attention she provides to every resident under her care. Under her leadership, the center boasts a Five Star Rating and exceptional clinical outcomes. She takes great pride in teaching new nurses about policy and regulations to help them feel confident in knowing they are performing at their best.
Jennifer Daves, Regional Director of Operations with Greystone Healthcare Management, was named FHCA’s 2018 Long Term Care Rising Star in Nursing Award recipient. Jennifer has spent more than 24 years working in long term care – first as a CNA, then achieving her LPN and RN licenses, as well as becoming a licensed nursing home administrator. Her exceptional skills, dedication and passion for success launched her into a position of leadership within her organization, where she helps the clinicians with identifying ways to support compliance, quality assurance and customer service as a road map to high-quality care.
Christie King, Staff Development Coordinator at Crestview Rehabilitation Center, was honored as the 2018 Registered Nurse of the Year. Christie has worked at Crestview for 23 years, starting her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant and working her way up to become a Registered Nurse. For the past 16 years she has been the center’s Staff Development Coordinator and has taught almost 100 CNA classes, taking each student under her wing and ensuring they all receive individualized training, life coaching and tender loving care. The majority of her students pass the CNA Exam on their first attempt thanks to her thoroughness and passionate teaching skills.
Tarena Arroyo, LPN Unit Manager at Consulate Health Care of New Port Richey, was recognized as the 2018 Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year. Tarena has been a LPN for 20 years and has worked for Consulate Health Care of New Port Richey for 18 of those years. She takes time to get to know every new resident and patient who arrives at the center, learning their personal stories and preferences, their medical needs and their family support. In a recent award-winning essay, this year’s winner shared that she loves the special feeling she gets knowing she can make a difference in residents’ lives on a daily basis.
Tammie Moore, CNA, with PruittHealth Santa Rosa, was honored as FHCA’s 2018 Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year. Tammie has been a CNA with PruittHealth Santa Rosa for 15 years. She is known for her ability to provide exceptional care on a physical and emotional level, offering companionship and conversation all while delivering the highest quality of care. She personifies the term caregiver and her passion is what drives her to continue her role as a CNA.
“The association is proud to recognize these dedicated caregivers for their outstanding service to our wonderful residents,” said Emmett Reed, executive director of FHCA. “Each of these nurses are role models for everyone they come into contact with, and the passion they demonstrate is one of the the reasons Florida leads the nation in exceptional long term care.”
FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence in Nursing Award honorees are health care professionals, nominated by Florida Health Care Association member centers, who reflect the unique characteristics, professionalism, and expanded skill sets of the long term care nursing profession. The annual awards recognize individuals for their important roles in helping centers achieve continuous quality improvement by improving their national Quality Measures and demonstrating a person-centered care approach to residents and patients.