Nursing Recognition

Clinical Advancement Program

The Clinical Practice Advancement Program provides the registered nurse the opportunity for both professional and clinical growth in nursing practice, above and beyond day to day nursing activities. The focus of the program is to advance professional nursing practice at York Hospital/WellSpan Health and to continue to raise the standard of clinical excellence. Consistent bedside nursing excellence is the expectation of all nurses at York Hospital and is compensated annually through merit increases at the time of the performance appraisal. All staff nurses are given the option to pursue development of professional, clinical, educational and leadership skills through this advancement program. The Clinical Practice Advancement Program is a voluntary process designed to recognize and compensate those professionals who contribute more than routine nursing excellence; demonstrate a greater depth of clinical and leadership practice and assume additional responsibilities that benefit their areas of practice and impact positively on nursing and patient care at York Hospital.

2007 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania The Nightingale Awards recognize outstanding nurses across Pennsylvania. In 2007,WellSpan was honored to have two Nightingale finalists within its ranks. Stephanie McKoin, RN, was a finalist in the Nursing Administration category. She serves as clinical director of perioperative services at York Hospital. Anita Haines was celebrating a 30-year career at Gettysburg Hospital when she became a finalist for the Nightingale Clinical Practice LPN award. Both women were drawn to nursing at an early age. Stephanie always knew she wanted to work in the sciences and make a difference in people's lives. Anita first became interested in nursing as a child, after helping her mother care for an elderly neighbor. The peers and colleagues who nominated Stephanie and Anita praised their unwavering dedication to patient care, as well as their contributions to maintaining a positive work environment. Finalists for the six award categories were honored at the 2007 Nightingale Awards Gala, which took place on October 12 in Harrisburg. "This is probably the highlight of my nursing career," Anita acknowledged.

Anita Haines, LPN and Stephanie McKoin, RN

2007 Nursing Spectrum's Nursing Excellence Awards

Valerie Hardy-Sprenkle was a finalist in Nursing Spectrum's 2007 Nursing Excellence Awards

Nursing Recognition in the News

Rollison earns Care for the Caregiver Award

Sedney Pabon earns Caring at the End of Life Award

Tracy Hunter earns Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award

York Hospital Excellence in Caring and Practice Awards 2008

WellSpan recognizes staff members for 25 or more years of service

York Hospital ranks high in readers’ choice survey

Two WellSpan nurses named Nightingale Awards finalists

Wendy McDowell earns national nursing leadership award

Rhada Hartmann wins caring at the end-of-life award

Cathleen Stauffer wins Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award

2006 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania

Jenny Bosley, RN, BSN 2006 Nightingale Awards Nursing Education of Pennsylvania Nominee
Sandra M. Garrett, RN, MSN 2006 Nightingale Awards Nursing Administration of Pennsylvania Nominee
Judith Gunther, RN 2006 Nightingale Awards Nursing Administration of Pennsylvania Nominee
Valerie Stafford Hardy-Sprenkle, RN, MPH, CNAA 2006 Nightingale Awards Nursing Administration of Pennsylvania Nominee and Finalist
Emily Huggins, RN, BSN, MHA 2006 Nightingale Awards Clinical Practice RN of Pennsylvania Nominee
Cathleen G. Stauffer, RN, BSN 2006 Nightingale Awards Clinical Practice

2006 Recipients of Reisinger, York Hospital Excellence in Caring and Practice Awards

Winners of the Kitty Reisinger Heart of Nursing Award and the York Hospital Excellence in Caring and Practice Awards were recently announced. Debra McNamara, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse at York Hospital, is this year’s recipient of the Reisinger Award, which recognizes a nurse who shows exemplary caring and compassionate service. The award is named for Kathryn "Kitty" Reisinger, a nurse in the York area for more than 40 years until her death in 2002. She was a 1949 graduate of the York Hospital School of Nursing.

The Excellence in Caring and Practice Awards were organized into categories similar to those of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania. There were 13 winners from the 132 members of the nursing staff nominated. The recipients are: Patricia Hauer, unit secretary; A. Scott Raimer, nursing assistant/technician.; Brenda Weller, L.P.N.; Jillian Gunther, R.N. new graduate; Michelle Latimer, CN I; George Hlodash, CN II; Ann Proctor, 5 CN III; Lisa Swope, staff nurse leader. Other recipients are Judy Gunther, nurse leader; Lorraine Bock, advanced practice nurse; Linda Fargo, evidence-based practice/nursing research; Glenna Harden, preceptor/mentor; and Kay Bozart, staff educator.

2005 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania

As nurses at York Hospital, Rhada Hartmann and Cherylyn Strickhouser have touched patient's lives during some of the happiest and most difficult times. In November 2005, Strickhouser and Hartmann were both recognized for their caring nature and dedication to the nursing profession with Nightingale Awards.

Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania is a statewide nonprofit foundation that aims to recruit and retain nurses in the state. Every year, the foundation recognizes extraordinary nursing professionals in the areas of clinical patient care, nursing education, nursing research and nursing administration. Annually, seven awards are presented.

York Hospital nurses have been nominated every year since the program began in 1990. In 2005, seven nurses were nominated for the award. They include: Cherylyn Strickhouser, Debbie Hemman, Sandy Kleiman, Glenna Vose (LPN category), Rhada Hartmann, Sedney Pabon (RN category) and Kim Green (Advanced Practice category).

Meet Our Nightingale Winners

Cherylyn Strickhouser
Working on the oncology unit at York Hospital, Cherylyn is known for her caring nature and open ear. She is always ready to take time to listen to her patients and then act upon their needs - such as asking a family to bring in her patient's dog or ensuring that a patient's cultural food preferences are taken into consideration. Cheryln's caring extends to her co-workers and to the community. She is never too busy to lend a hand and role models conflict resolution to promote team cohesiveness. Outside of work, she volunteers her time at the Rape Crisis Center and sews for an area nursing home. Cherylyn also enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren.

Rhada Hartmann
As an obstetrical nurse, a childbirth educator and a postpartum home visitation nurse, Rhada became interested in what happens to a family when a baby dies. From that interest, she developed and introduced a perinatal loss standard of care in the maternity unit and became a trained coordinator. Rhada is certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement and as a bereavement facilitator. Over the years, Rhada's hard work and dedication has evolved into a comprehensive Bereavement and Palliative Care Program at York Hospital. In 2005, Rhada was elected a delegate to the Governor's Task Force on Quality Palliative Care at the End of Life. She has published in several journals and co-authored a chapter in a nursing textbook. She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations in the community and at other hospitals in the region and around the country. Rhada enjoys spending time with her family and is involved in her church and a Youth Aid Panel.

2004 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania

In 2004, two York Hospital nurses were nominated. Lynne Moul, manager of the Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the Medical Transitional Care Unit, was nominated in the Nursing Administration category. Diane Seidenstricker, a certified diabetic educator with the Diabetes Self Management Program, was nominated in the Clinical Practice RN category. It is with great pride and admiration for their tireless efforts and accomplishments that we recognize and celebrate York Hospital’s Nightingale nominees, finalists and winners.