Griffin Hospital recently held its 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration to honor its more than 480 staff nurses. The Nursing Department staff members were treated to refreshments, gifts, raffles and award presentations to nurses who provided exceptional care during the year.
“It is fitting that the theme for this year’s Griffin Health Nurses Week Celebration is ‘Our Nurses Power Exceptional Care,’” Griffin Health President and CEO Patrick Charmel said at the awards reception. “The power that our nurses possess lies in the depth of their compassion, the resilience of their spirit, and the commitment to excellence that defines their every interaction. You empower and guide patients and their families through some of life’s most challenging moments with empathy, compassion, companionship, and hope.”
Tammy Borkowski, BSN, MSNCB, a nurse in the Griffin Hospital Critical Care Unit (CRCU), received the 2024 Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award.
A caregiver at Griffin since 2013, Tammy is an invaluable member of the CRCU team, exemplifying leadership by example and compassion in every interaction with patients, visitors and caregivers alike.
“Those of us who work in CRCU have come to recognize a true leader among us – Tammy Borkowski. Through Tammy’s mentoring of new hires, she has not only empowered new nurses, she has also created a strong sense of respect and trust in those that she mentors and in those of us who simply observe,” Borkowski’s nomination stated. “Tammy has excelled in all of her roles here at Griffin Hospital which include: Charge RN, Preceptor, Team Lead and House Nurse Supervisor. Tammy consistently upholds the Planetree model of care by promoting person-centered care, staying focused on the needs of others, upholding kindness, and demonstrating respect to all those around her.”
In addition, Rebecca Villanueva, BSN, RN, received the Marie Santini Perioperative Nursing Excellence Award; April Garcia, BSN, RN, received the Mary Schumacher Leadership Award; Paola Vigil, BSN, MSN, RN, received the Mary Nelligan Nursing Scholarship Award; Jessica Louis, BSN, RN, received the Donald Torok Memorial Scholarship Award; and Melissa Pantalone, RN-BC, received the Shirley Yale Nursing Scholarship Award.
Griffin Health Outstanding Nurse of the Year Tammy Borkowski, BSN, MSNCB, front, received the award at a special ceremony with Griffin Hospital Nursing Leadership, members of the Critical Care Unit and her husband, Jay, daughter, Sage, and son, Quinton.
Griffin Health Nurse April Garcia, BSN, RN, received the Mary Schumacher Nursing Leadership Award at Griffin’s 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration.
Griffin Health Nurse Jessica Louis, BSN, RN, right, received the Donald Torok Memorial Scholarship Award at Griffin’s 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from award presenter Linda Torok.
Griffin Health Nurse Melissa Pantalone, RN-BC, received the Shirley Yale Nursing Scholarship Award at Griffin’s 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration.
Griffin Health Nurse Paola Vigil, BSN, MSN, RN, left, received the Mary Nelligan Continuing Education Award at Griffin’s 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Interim Vice President of Patient Care Services Kelly Egan, MSN.
Griffin Health Nurse Rebecca Villanueva, BSN, RN, left, received the Marie Santini Perioperative Nursing Excellence Award at Griffin’s 36th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Surgical Services Administrator Kim Viadero.