Hollings Cancer Center nurses recognized at 2018 Nursing Excellence Awards

Four nurses with Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) received recognition at the 2018 Nursing Excellence Awards Ceremony held at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) May 7.

The event kicked off National Nurses Week recognizing the exceptional care and compassion shown by MUSC nurses every day. The four were among 63 nominees being recognized as Unit Nurse of the Year in their respective units. Among the recipients were: Bonita Costello, RN, (7W Main), Alyssa Lafond, RN (7E ART), Xiang Liu, RN (7W ART) and Ellen Smith, RN, (HCC Neuro-Oncology).

Keynote speaker Teresa Stephens, Ph.D., RN, shared the theme of this year’s Nurses Week: inspire, innovate and influence. Deborah Adams, nurse manager for Hollings Cancer Center, said these four nurses demonstrate all these qualities.

“Oncology nurses are the best nurses I have ever worked with, they are truly the benchmark of nursing,” Adams said.

Smith, a nurse in the neuro-oncology clinic said what she loves most about nursing is working with the patients. “They have taught me to appreciate each day we are given. Not all of us are guaranteed tomorrow, but a lot of our patients have a zest for life. I’ve learned a lot from them and that’s the gift they give to me.”

The ceremony concluded with the MUSC Health Nurse of the Year award presented to Maggie Dillehay, RN. MUSC has also been awarded Magnet Recognition, an acknowledgment of quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.