Bronson Battle Creek Honors Nurses For Excellence

During recent Nurses’ Week celebrations at Bronson, five nurses from Bronson Battle Creek were recognized with Excellence in Nursing Awards for representing key areas of the Nursing Professional Model of Care: leadership, compassion, expertise and impact. This select group of caregivers exemplifies Positivity, and each are shining examples of what it means to be a Bronson nurse. The 2021 honorees include:

• Della Davenport, BSN, RN, is a nurse on the C3/General Medical Unit (GMU), and the recipient of the Hazel Latondress Leadership Award. “Della is grace under fire! She has been here from the beginning of the pandemic, and remains here, asking questions and advocating for patients and staff alike. I can count on her to appropriately question any new process, and do it with the patients in the forefront.” Read Della’s full nomination.
• Angie Shifflett, BSN, RN, is a nurse on the C5/Oncology Unit, and the recipient of the Hazel Latondress Compassion Award. “There was a situation during COVID-19 where a patient was not going to live much longer. Angie got approval to wheel the patient downstairs to visit a friend through the outdoor window. She empathizes and provides great comfort for her patients. I truly look up to her and know that if I have family in the hospital and they are to be cared for by Angie, they are being cared for by the best.” Read Angie’s full nomination.
• Valarie Silkworth, BSN, RN, patient safety & quality coordinator, is the recipient of the Hazel Latondress Impact Award. Valarie is nominated for her attention to detail in identifying a potential patient risk while working in triage in the Emergency Department. “While assisting a patient with her belongings, Valarie noted that the patient had a handgun with her. Valerie brought attention to this situation immediately to the charge nurse and ED police officer, who spoke with the patient. It was quickly found that the patient had a CPL and forgot the gun was in her bag. The patient’s weapon was then secured for the patient to retrieve with BCPD upon disposition.” Read Valarie’s full nomination.
• Brodi Tobolski, RN, is a nurse on the C3/General Medical Unit (GMU), and the recipient of the Rising Star Award. “Brodi is a pandemic graduate! She entered her nursing career not fully understanding where her profession was headed and she has done amazing. She is always smiling and connecting with people, and is able to navigate a room beautifully. Her night shift team trusts her decision making skills, and she has even been promoted to a charge nurse! This has been an unprecedented year and Brodi has made it so much better.” Read Brodi’s full nomination.
• Mary Warner, BSN, RN, is a nurse in the Infusion Center, and the recipient of the Hazel Latondress Expertise Award. “Mary has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for her work. She makes every effort to meet the needs of her patients, whether that means coming in early, staying late or creating space. In the four years that Mary has worked in Infusion, in an informal lead role, she has helped grow the volume from 1,300 visits annually to over 3,400 visits. When the pandemic started, Infusion was working at a reduced capacity, but Mary found a way to make space for patients, working with Infection Prevention to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Mary always does what is needed to support our patients. For this, her dedication and commitment, and her innovative approach to her role, she deserves praise.” Read Mary’s full nomination.

All of these winners represent the high caliber of nursing care at Bronson, and display Positivity in action. Do you know a nurse who provides exceptional care? Honor them online at bronsonthankanurse.com. If you have a story to share about a positive experience you have had at Bronson, share it online at bronsonpositivity.com.

Read about the Nursing Excellence Award winners from Kalamazoo

Read about the nursing assistants honored with Sunshine Awards