WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Anthony J. Principi announced recipients of his annual award to recognize achievement in nursing care. The awardees were honored for their contributions to VA health care in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The 2002 recipients of the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing are: Martha Adams-Watts, R.N., St. Louis; Sandra Griffiths, R.N., Pittsburgh; Pon Ninlawong, licensed practical nurse, Dayton, Ohio; and Esterbina Irizarry, nursing assistant, Northampton, Mass. A posthumous award was presented to Michael W. Walton, former director of the Chillicothe, Ohio, VA Medical Center.
"VA nurses are valued members of the VA health care team who make a crucial difference," said Secretary Principi, "Veterans could not receive quality health care without them."
Criteria for the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing include how the recipients integrate current standards of nursing practice into clinical care, meet performance standards, interact with co-workers to achieve appropriate care, and maintain skills through continuing education and inquiry.
VA has one of the largest nursing staffs of any hospital system in the world, composed of 55,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, vocational nurses and nursing assistants. VA nurses provide comprehensive, compassionate care to assist veterans to maintain or regain health, to learn to live with disabilities, or to die with dignity and comfort. Care is provided in a variety of clinical settings.
