For Immediate Release
August 2, 2006
Contact: Michael Valentino
(732) 751-7538
mvalentino@meridianhealth.com

MERIDIAN NURSES DOMINATE GOVERNOR'S NURSING AWARDS

Three of the 12 nurses recognized for exceptional contributions to the nursing profession hail from Meridian Health medical centers.

Neptune, NJ - Three nurses from Meridian Health were recognized at the 18th Annual New Jersey Governor’s Nursing Merit Awards. The winners were honored in three separate award categories which recognize exceptional achievements and contributions to the nursing profession. Meridian Health nurses have consistently been recognized with the Governor’s Award for the past nine years.

This year, Sue Karl, RN,C, (Little Silver) from the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, received the Registered Professional Nurse – Acute Care Award; Judy Surko, RN, (Hazlet) nurse manager of the Critical Care unit at Riverview Medical Center received the Nurse Manager Award; and Richard Ridge, RN, (Neptune) director of Nursing Education for Meridian Health (including Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center), received the Nurse Educator Award.

The New Jersey Governor’s Nursing Merit Award was established in 1989 by then Governor, Thomas Kean. Through the Governor's Nursing Merit Awards program, which is administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Nursing Merit Award Advisory Board, the Governor of New Jersey acknowledges individual New Jersey nurses who demonstrate nursing excellence, and it honors their essential contributions to the nursing profession as well as to our State's healthcare system. The award recognizes exemplary attributes that include a unique blend of technical excellence and human compassion. During the past nine years, 15 Meridian nurses have been recognized with the Governor’s Merit Award.

“Sue, Judy and Rich are three fine examples of the truly remarkable nurses who work at Meridian Health – nurses who make a difference every day in the lives of the patients for whom we care,” says Richard Hader, R.N., Ph.D., senior vice president of Nursing and chief nursing officer, Meridian Health, and past Governor’s Merit Award winner. “The Governor’s Nursing Merit Awards are the highest honor a nurse can receive by the State of New Jersey. We are extremely proud to have three of this year’s 12 awards be presented to Meridian Health nurses, which is a reflection of our entire team of devoted and talented professionals.”

The Governor’s Merit Awards are another example of Meridian’s commitment to nursing excellence. In 1998, Meridian Health was the first health care system in the nation to achieve the prestigious Magnet nursing status at each of its hospitals, an honor that was achieved again in 2002 when each hospital was recertified. Magnet award recognition is bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation's foremost nursing accrediting and credentialing organization, to recognize hospitals with nursing staffs practicing the highest standards in nursing and clinical excellence.

Meridian is also a nationally recognized leader in the development of advanced nursing careers and innovative clinical environments, which has resulted in Meridian currently having the lowest nursing vacancy rate in New Jersey.
In 2003, Meridian launched its Model of Care pilot program at each Meridian Health partner hospital. Created to evaluate and promote a new type of nursing environment centered on patient and nurse satisfaction, each Model of Care unit offers a higher nurse to patient ratio, creates an innovative ‘shared governance’ process with physicians, makes optimal use of the latest technologies, and provides advanced professional development opportunities and continuous education programs with its own dedicated nurse educator.

Meridian Health is a family of health care organizations comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Partner Companies that include home care agencies, long-term and assisted living communities, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and occupational health located throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties. Meridian Health specializes in cardiac care and surgery, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, and women and children’s health. Meridian Health is the regional provider of trauma services and cardiac surgery, which has been ranked among the top programs in New Jersey.

Meridian Health was the first health organization in the nation to achieve the prestigious Magnet designation for its nursing staff at each of its partner hospitals and has been named as one of the Top Ten ‘Best Places to Work in New Jersey’. For more information, please call 1-800-560-9990 or visit www.meridianhealth.com.

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