Recognizing the Nightingale Award Winners for Their Dedication to Nursing
Floor Speech
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor twelve Colorado nurses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and been recognized by the Colorado Nurses Foundation (CNF) with the Nightingale Award for working tirelessly to advance the nursing profession, improve quality and access to care, and positively impact their communities.
The CNF has dedicated itself to creating a sustainable health care system for our community and the entire state of Colorado. Throughout their decades of work, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have continued to work tirelessly to advance their vision of a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable care environment for Colorado nurses and the people they serve. CNF offers scholarships, funds research projects, runs educational initiatives, and makes a concerted effort to recognize nurses who make a difference in the profession.
To this end, CNF hosts the Nightingale Gala each year to recognize pioneers in nursing from across the state who have continuously pushed the boundaries of their profession. This year, the Foundation recognized twelve exemplary nurses who went to great lengths to serve their community by finding innovative solutions to problems like expanding telehealth, combatting sexual assault, and large-scale vaccine administration.
These nurses made a profound difference in our community, and I am proud to recognize the twelve Nightingale Award winners:
Jenifer Bartel, RN, BSN from Parkview Medical Center
Kathy Casey, RN, PHD from Denver Health
Jennifer Coffman, RN, MSN, JD from Children's Hospital Colorado
Christina Denton, RN MSN from UC Health
Amy Dreher, RN, BSN, MPH from Falcon School District 49
Brian Fun, RN, BSN from Denver Health Medical Center
Catherine Kleiner, RN, PhD from Children's Hospital Colorado
Stacey Kreil, RN, DNP from Centura-Penrose-St. Francis Health Services
Dixie Melton, RN, MSN from Centura Health Ignacio Family Medicine
Laura Sandoval-Adams, RN, BSN from Parkview Health System
Rosalyn Walker, RN, MSN from Centura Health St. Thomas More Hospital
Lori Wightman, RN, DNP from SCL Health.
The work and sacrifice by nurses in our community has taken on a whole new meaning these past few years. From twelve-hour shifts, to being forced to isolate from loved ones--nurses have held our community together while enduring enormous personal costs. Still, these nurses have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to pioneer breakthroughs in their profession.
Our community is forever indebted to these heroes, and I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize the twelve Nightingale Award winners as well as thank the Colorado Nurses Foundation for their dedication to advancing the nursing profession and keeping our community healthy and safe.
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