Quality Improvement
2010 Excellence in Nursing Award Recipients
On September 9th, FHCA recognized its 2010 Long Term Care Excellence in Nursing Award recipients for making outstanding contributions when caring for Florida’s elderly and/or citizens with disabilities. Each individual was honored for her efforts to improve quality outcomes in nursing home resident care, for her professional excellence and her enthusiasm to promote long term care nursing as a specialty. The awards were presented during the FHCA 2010 Nurse Leadership Program at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort with nearly 200 long term care nurses and other health care professionals in attendance.
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Nurse Administrator of the YearKarin Costandi, Director of Nursing, Live Care Center of Orange Park (co-recipient) Costandi is devoted to both residents and staff of her facility, which has a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) overall rating of 5 stars. Her commitment to staff is demonstrated through a spirit of mentorship, identifying and providing ramped-up continuing education opportunities, knowing the special skills of facility staff members, and even bringing her own culinary skills to bear through homemade goodies and early bird breakfast cooking for staff. Costandi is mission-driven, which is evident in the relationships she develops with the residents. She is a life-long learner; in addition to long work hours, she is continuing her education as a BSN. |
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Nurse Administrator of the YearPat Ward, Director of Nursing, Lutheran Haven Nursing Home (co-recipient) Ward is described as a forward-thinker; someone who stays ahead of the curve and keeps her facility at the forefront of quality resident care. As Director of Nursing, Ward strives toward understanding emerging trends and technologies, employing them to be proactive and contributing to a strong continuity of care. Ward works across departments – nursing, admissions, social services, employee health, and more - as her facility is a stand-alone, independent facility. She is also a licensed health care risk manager, and the facility has been recognized by Florida's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for its restraint free status. |
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Registered Nurse of the YearAngelia Andrews, Bridgeview Center in Ormond Beach As Director of Nursing, Andrews has led her facility in reducing falls by half while at the same time reducing restraint use by 80 percent, as well as serving a resident population with a high rate of dementia. She has maximized efficient communication with unit directors and floor nurses, leading to better interventions for residents. Her clinical knowledge has helped guide her facility in making meaningful purchase choices that best benefit residents and staff in outcomes and job performance. |
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Licensed Practical Nurse of the YearWanda Rios, Consulate Health Care of Kissimmee Rios is known as an individual that consistently models her organization’s key values of respect, passion, and integrity. As a unit manager, she is a nurse leader and a role model for other staff, achieving a strong staff retention rate, no staffing agency use, while demonstrating genuine concern for employees. Understanding that her “customers” are not only residents and family members, she is also supportive of her peers and supervisors. Her management style encourages cooperation, and her commitment to residents sets the standard for courtesy and respect during all interactions. |
