Honoring our Nurse Colleagues Who Have Died

1. Honoring our Nurse ColleaguesWho Have Died Research Evidence Based Practice Symposium December 4, 5 2009 Burlington, Vermont

2. Remember the time…. • Each of us has memories from our nursing career of situations that were happy, funny, stressful, proud and awe inspiring. • We’ve usually shared those moments not just with a client or family but also with a nursing colleague or two. • Tonight we want to remember some of those colleagues who are no longer with us but who form part of the fabric of our nursing careers and our image of nursing as a profession.

3. Our tribute provides attendees at this research symposium with the opportunity to honor a nurse colleague and to reflect on their contributions to the nursing profession.

4. Nursing is a calling, a way of life. Nursing is a service profession that cannot be lived in isolation. Nurses rely on each other for the synergistic effect of teamwork in our efforts of care giving. It is appropriate that we honor our colleagues not only during their career, but also at the end of life’s journey. Kansas State Nurses Association, 2003

5. Please take a few moments to read about these influential nurses and the ways in which they contributed to their chosen profession. • At the conclusion of the individual tributes please read on to learn about The Nightingale Tribute from the Kansas State Nurses’ Association

6. International Scholar & Nurse Leader: Graduate of McGill, University of Chicago & Stanford University • One of the 1st PhD Prepared Nurses in Canada • 1st to articulate the concepts of the McGill Model • Founding president: United Nurses of Montreal • Founding Member, Nursing School Accreditation • Served the WHO to evaluate nursing schools in India, South America and Africa • Founder of “Nursing Papers” (CJNR) ; 1st scholarly journal of nursing research in Canada • Founded the 1st Direct-Entry Master’s Program in Canada, 1975 • Prominent Nurse researcher & recipient of the NHRDP scientist award; • CNA: Jeanne Mance Award; ONQ: Order of Merit; CASN: Ethel Johns Award • Officer of the Order of Canada, 1987 Dr. F. Moyra Allen Professor Emeritus & Director, School of Nursing, McGill University

7. Dorothy BasolUnion Hospital, Mayville, NDOctober 2, 1925-January 26, 2009 While raising six children, Dorothy managed to work the night shift at Union Hospital, never missing an event with her church, program at school, or a preparing a meal for the table. A valued member of the nursing team, her only daughter followed in her footsteps, and most recently, her granddaughter, and for that, she was most proud. Julie Nelson Basol

8. Susan Levinsky RN MPHQuality Nurse ConsultantOctober 4, 1960- January 21, 2005 Sue and I worked closely together on this research study for over 3 years. It was a labor of love, a learning and growing process for both of us. I will never forget the camaraderie, laughs, and tears we shared. Sue kept this project alive; she’s the reason it was completed. Thank you Sue. I miss you. Ann Laramee

9. Judy Mara, RN MSANurse LeaderMay 22, 1943 – Sept. 5, 2007 Judy and I were neighbors in Essex, friends and colleagues. We worked closely together at Fletcher Allen in the Department of Community Health Improvement, and collaborated on various initiatives through Vermont State Nurses Association. Judy was also my officemate and at one point, she was a Nursing Director at Fletcher Allen, and was my boss. Judy’s “can do” attitude was inspiring. Hollie Shaner-McRae

10. Susan Martel, RN, MSNJune 7, 1958-August 28, 2004 Strong of heart and soft of hand, Susan Martel was a shining example in so many ways--wife, mother, daughter, nurse and friend. From her obituary Nursing Career • Susan chose to be a nurse at the urging of her father and she tried it all • LPN at New Hampshire Vocational Technical College, • BSN from Norwich • MSN from UVM 1996. • Went from floor nurse at Coös County Nursing Home in Berlin to Director of Medical Surgical Nursing at FAHC • We miss her wisdom, her warmth and her willingness to care for others more than herself. Moments of Excellence • Regional and national presentations and publications--fall prevention and safe patient handling to name a few. • Woody & Susan Martel Scholarship: Student in financial need pursuing higher education, who participated in athletics, attained good grades, and been a good school and community citizen. • Becoming parents to Bradley. After her death, Woody shared her love by adding to their family with their son Cory

11. Bonnie Nelson, LPNUnion Hospital, Mayville, NDNovember 22, 1929-December 5, 2008 Once Mom got the last of her kids in school, she set out to find a ‘real’ job, she said. She found great joy in working as a nurses aide. Dad used to call her ‘Dr. Nelson’ to which she would giggle, “oh, you don’t want me delivering babies – just cuddling them! I miss you Mom; am coordinating the Symposium in your honor. Julie Nelson Basol

12. Veronica Madden       Veronica Madden graduated from St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in the early 50s. She eventually became a staff nurse at Harrington Memorial Hospital where she was the head nurse when I was hired as her assistant, a new graduate in 1968. She was my first mentor and guided me in the transition from academia to practice before it was acknowledged as such a significant period of time. Although Von is not yet deceased, she is on comfort measures only in a nursing home. I spoke to her brother to inquire about this picture. He was so happy we were going to honor her. He reminded me that my Aunt Catherine had been her teacher and, in Von, became mine. Ellen Ceppetelli

13. Marilyn Rinker, MSN, RN Died May 11, 2009 Marilyn held many positions in the course of her career including: Nursing Director for Medicine and Cardiology at Fletcher Allen; Oncology Clinical Coordinator at The Vermont Regional Cancer Center; Nurse manager of a Medical Unit with an Oncology focus in Marlboro, Massachusetts; many years in Oncology as a Nurse Practitioner; Clinical Research Nurse and Oncology Educator in Vermont and Rhode Island; eight years as The Nursing Program Director at Norwich University; and her last position held was Executive Director of the Vermont State Nurses' Association. I first met Marilyn when she was a director in cardiology. She was never afraid to take on new challenges and always had a knack for knowing the real scuttlebutt. We miss your unassuming, caring can do attitude Marilyn. Ann Laramee

14. Josephine B Rovinski, RN Josephine B. Rovinski, RN graduated in 1948 from All Souls' Hospital School of Nursing, Morristown, New Jersey. Since her career selection was contrary to that preferred by her mother, Mrs. Rovinski financed her education by joining the Army's Cadet Nurse Corps in 1945. She worked in several hospitals in New Jersey, including St. Clares Hospital, Denville, New Jersey beginning in 1964. She was instrumentally involved in the Karen Ann Quinlan case. Having steadily moved up the organizational hierarchy, Mrs. Rovinski retired from SSM Healthcare in 1986 after serving as the CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital in Barbados, West Indies. She was an active member of several nursing and hospital associations, and continued as a health care consultant after her "formal" retirement. She was most proud of her participation in the Nurses' Health Study from its inception until her death in 2005. Mrs. Rovinski was a devoted wife, working mother of 4, and grandmother of 7.

15. Catherine Rafferty Ryan Catherine Rafferty Ryan is my aunt who graduated from St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in the mid-30s. She was a constant presence in the lives of her nine siblings and their families. I learned very early on how important the role of nurses could be in health promotion and minimizing the effects of disease from her. Her caring nature was not simply toward our family but was extended to all the colleagues and patients. She was the Director of Nurses at Harrington Hospital in Massachusetts when she retired at 46 to get married. In 1963, when I contemplated nursing programs, she insisted that I begin with a bachelors degree. She has been my role model and I still miss her, 10 years after her death. Ellen Ceppetelli

16. Eleanor A. Schuster, DNSc, RN       Environmental Nurse Leader       1931 - 2001       

17. Albert T. Tremblay, RN, MSN Al’s career in nursing spanned 18 years and included many diverse roles and settings. His clinical experience included medical and neonatal intensive care units, the burn unit, and cardiac catheter lab. As a nurse leader and administrator, he was the first ECMO Nurse Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital, Director of ICU and Inpatient services at Fanny Allen Hospital, Nurse Manager and Director of Special Projects at Fletcher Allen Health Care. Al was one of the first people at FAHC to support the model of Shared Governance. He shared and helped realize a model of Shared Governance that is patient focused, multi-disciplinary, and gives care providers a true voice in decisions that affect care for patients and families. Al recognized the importance of good communication, good planning and clear visions. He believed in the importance of developing trust among all staff members, and to appreciate and encourage staff to use their knowledge, skills and strengths to be the best that they could be. In the end, Al was the ultimate nurse drawing on all of his knowledge of both the art and science of nursing. He was a role model for the profession of Nursing in his demeanor, his sense of caring, and his respect for others. Al prepared himself, his family, and everyone that shared in his life for his death, he taught us how to die with peace, grace and dignity.

18. The Nightingale Tribute • A tribute to any registered nurse or licensed practical nurse for their years of service to be given during the nurse’s funeral by a nurse colleague or friend. • The Nightingale Tribute was designed and developed by the Kansas State Nurses’ Association in 2003 to be used to honor deceased nurses. Any part or all of the Nightingale Tribute may be used, and modification to the reading and script are encouraged.

19. 2004 by Duane Jaeger, RN, MSN

20. Music selection by Lucy Dupont, RN Spencer Lewis – Close to Home Song-Hands of Love