Earlier this week, on March 19, St. Tammany Health System observed Certified Nurses Day, a time set aside to honor the dedication of those nursing professionals who have taken the initiative to earn national board certification in their area of specialty.
It’s a recognition that the health system – and the entire nursing profession – marks annually on March 19, the anniversary of the birth of certified nursing pioneer Dr. Gretta Styles.
But this year’s celebration was a little different. Due to ongoing construction work at the hospital, a plaque listing the names of the health system’s 110 certified nurses was in storage on Certified Nurses Day instead of being on display its usual place in the health system’s cafeteria.
Clearly, we couldn’t let that stand.
So, we’re featuring it in today’s installment in 70 for 70, our 70-week, 70-part series celebrating St. Tammany Health System’s upcoming 70th anniversary.
Installment No. 33: Honor roll
Today’s artifact: A plaque engraved with the names of the 110 certified nurses currently in St. Tammany Health System’s ranks.
Why it is significant: All of St. Tammany Health System’s nurses are highly trained, of course. But those who have taken the time to become certified nurses – a strictly voluntary process – represent the best of the best, striving to not only better themselves but to deliver the safest, highest-quality patient care possible.
In fact, of STHS’s 110 certified nurses, seven are certified in multiple areas.
That’s kind of a big deal, both to the health system and to its patients – which is why health system leadership decided years ago to inscribe the names of its certified nurses on a plaque for posterity.
Exactly when the plaque was first put into service is unclear; STHS Education Director Terri Johnston – who is, incidentally, among the 110 – said it was already in use when she began working at the health system 17 years ago, in 2007.
Updated twice annually, it has room for 120 names – which means the health system will likely need to invest in a bigger plaque fairly soon.
Although it isn’t currently on display, we tracked it down and photographed it in storage. You can see it above. You can also scroll down to see the names of those dedicated nurses listed thereupon.
STHS Certified Registered Nurses
Note: An asterisk denotes those STHS nurses with multiple certifications.
Janiece Weinberger*
Leslie Bryan
Julie Gatewood
Julie Nevers
Danielle Edwards
Jeanne Kavanaugh
Cindy Ingram
Paula Schindler
Rachel Michel Donovan
Amy Deane
Erin Lee*
Pam Lazas
Cheryl Barre
Denise Hurstell
Winifred Hernandez*
Megan Quirk
Michelle Laborde
Nicole Alexander
Teresa Krutzfeltd
Wendy Harrison
Terry Compton
Rebecca Stubenrauch
Toby Tournillion
Cassy Wust
Michelle Krentel
Jennifer Gray
Stacy Warner
Don Otto
Madelene Meier
Keri Skeins
Seana Hester
Sharon Moore
Emily Price
Missy Condatore*
Andrea Robinson
Megan Fussell
Travis Anglin
Alyssa Callais
Brett Connolly
Terri Johnston
Laura Samson
Donna Giovingo
Rochelle Giacone
Jennifer Corcoran
Regina Knight
Sabrina Hawkins
Michelle Kraus
Denise Campbell
Brandon Eberts
Brianna Burns
Rebecca Wood
Maureen Evans
Lindsay Gomez
Laura Goodey
Rosie Fondren
Arlyn Arseneaux
Elaine Ward
Natalie Connelly
Harleigh LiRocchi
Jonah Mollere
Jeremy Priola
Regina Green
Denise Cheramie
Michelle Aceves-Richard
Trey Henderson
Heather McElveen
Amy Brown
Ashley Rivere
Christine Caffery
Delindy Sharp*
Jennifer Delahoussaye
Kelly Rogers*
Lindsay Vidal
Mary Baham
Mindy Moore
Kelly Ussery
Angela Gottschalk
Alex Martinez
Megan Gaillot
Dianne Larmann
Ashley Kinchen
Tanya Mansfield
Karen Haile
Suzanne Fraiche
Abby Burns
Kristin Vogt
Ashley Dykes
Rachel Barbay
Michelle Kingston
Bonny Fielding
Jacob Magee
Paula Day
Nancy Ferger
Tammie LaLa
Mindy Bailey
Stacey Thomas
Emma Bel
Amanda Nazario
Jill Breazeale
Angela Foley
Kelly Parker
Jessica Gordon
Melanie Young*
Maria Turner
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 34: Marking the new millennium
Last week – Installment No. 32: ‘Our heart and soul’