Two Self Regional RNs earn Palmetto Gold Award
GREENWOOD---Two registered nurses at Self Regional Healthcare have earned the Palmetto Gold Award for excellence in nursing.
Among the 100 registered nurses from across South Carolina recognized for the prestigious honor in 2010 are Linda Phillips, RN, director of the hospital’s medical nursing units, along with Paula Smith, RN, Clinical Nurse Specialist on Self Regional’s medical surgical nursing unit.
Since 2002, the Palmetto Gold Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Program has annually recognized 100 South Carolina nurses who exemplify excellence in nursing practice and commitment to the nursing profession. Recipients are singled out at an annual formal event known as the Palmetto Gold Gala in the presence of employers, family and friends.
Proceeds from the Palmetto Gold Gala are donated to scholarships that support nurses throughout South Carolina. Since the program was established, thousands of dollars in nursing scholarships have been awarded to nursing students and more has been invested in the Palmetto Gold scholarship endowment.
Phillips earned recognition based on several accomplishments, including initiating a pain management team to address issues related to patient satisfaction with pain management on the hospital’s medical units. She also was the first to introduce the Admin Rx computerized medication administration on a nursing unit and initiated a rounding process for case management.
The award winner, who joined the hospital six years ago, initiated a program on medical units to reduce catheter associated urinary trace infections and overall infection rates on medical floors. She started a patient safety/fall team and as a key member in initiating and implementing a Palliative Care Program that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease for patients at Self Regional.
Smith, who has been with Self Regional 19 years, earned the Palmetto Gold Award based on the role she played in helping the hospital implement a bar coded medication system. She was instrumental in the development of a new graduate residency program and assisted with a prevalence study related to a decrease in pressure ulcers at Self Regional.
Her skills at teaching students, instructors and nurses, as well as her ability to teach competency for a number of Self Regional nursing units, were also noted as achievements that led to the recognition.
Both local award winners were singled out with resolutions from the Self Regional Healthcare Board of Trustees at their meeting Monday.
“The Board has elected to honor each of you with special resolutions outlining all you have accomplished to earn recognition for excellence in nursing,” said Hazel Hughes, board chairman. “I hope you will see fit to take these and display them in a manner that let’s others see how proud we are to have you as part of the Self Regional Healthcare team.”
. Pictured from left are: Jim Pfeiffer, President & CEO; Hazel Hughes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Phillips; Smith; and Connie Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. The two are among 100 RNs across the state selected to receive the honor this year.