Shore Health System nurses made a good showing at the June 7 Nursing Spectrum Awards Ceremony that honored nurses in the Maryland/Virginia/DC region.

Lori Geisler, MSN, RN, CCRN, clinical nurse specialist for critical care at Shore Health System, was chosen from among five finalists as the winner of the 2011 Nursing Spectrum Nursing Excellence Award for Teaching.

The Nursing Spectrum Award Teaching award goes to a nurse who has made significant contributions in education, professional development and long-term learning of nursing professionals.

The peer who nominated Geisler for the Nursing Spectrum Teaching award described her as “a complete nurse.” The nominator explained, “(Lori) is able to provide direct bedside care and to teach others how to provide exceptional bedside care. She can also teach the experienced nurse or even members of her multi-disciplinary task force and other healthcare providers. She inspires new and mature nurses to excel and to be more than they ever dreamed that they could be.”

A nurse for 27 years, Geisler is an instructor for the Shore Health System Critical Care University novice nurse orientation program. Geisler was instrumental in the completion of Shore Health System’s Magnet® application, which entailed documenting what the system has accomplished in the areas of nursing quality, education and research.

Geisler has been a leader in many initiatives including the task force formed to reduce ventilator associated pneumonia at Shore Health System. As an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Geisler encourages critical care nurses to become members of this association and to become certified in their specialty. Seventy percent of Shore Health System critical care nurses are certified, in part because of Geisler’s encouragement and the help she has provided in writing grants to fund the cost of obtaining professional certification.

Other Shore Health System nurses who made the list of Nursing Spectrum Award finalists are:
• Critical Care: Hope Padilla, BSN, RN, PCCN, Critical Care staff nurse, Dorchester General Hospital. This category celebrates nurses who demonstrate excellence in any clinical setting as they work directly with patients and their families.
• Community Service: Patricia Phillips, RN, Admission Nurse Liaison, Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation, Memorial Hospital. This award category recognizes nurses who have made significant professional contributions that have improved patient care.
• Mentoring: Barbara Bilconish, MSN, RN-BC, Director, Professional Nursing Practice and Magnet Program, Shore Health System. Nurses who are finalists in the mentoring category provide a positive professional influence, guidance and support that foster the development of their nurse colleagues.

In photo: The Shore Health System 2011 Nursing Spectrum Award finalists are (left to right) Hope Padilla, BSN, RN, PCCN; Lori Geisler, MSN, RN, CCRN; Patricia Phillips, RN; and Barbara Bilconish, MSN, RN-BC. Lori Geisler won in the category of Teaching.