Nurses Recognized for Empowering Patients through Education

Nurses Recognized for Empowering Patients through Education

To practice nursing at the highest level, RWJ Hamilton nurses keep current with evolving medical advances. "Healthcare is a dynamic field wherein discoveries are made almost everyday," says Johanna Demirjian, NP, C, stroke program coordinator. "Ongoing nursing education is crucial to ensuring positive patient outcomes." Being knowledgeable about the latest trends in healthcare enables RWJ Hamilton nurses to communicate effectively with patients about their health conditions, treatment options and life-enhancing strategies.

"Patients do much better when they know what to expect, when to call their doctors and how we can help them." says Trish Tatrai, RN, coordinator of the breast consultation program at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton (CINJ Hamilton). "We do our best to put our patients at ease, and they appreciate it." Elizabeth Lillo, MSN, CCRN, RWJ Hamilton’s heart failure coordinator, agrees on the importance of education: "I explain to patients and their families the causes of heart failure, its treatment and what steps they can take to become empowered to make a difference in their health. My goal is to give my patients the tools and knowledge to live a full and productive life with heart failure."

"We also instruct our patients about healthy life habits so they can maintain equilibrium between the body, mind and spirit," adds Nancy Szumloz, RN, an oncology nurse. "Habits such as healthy eating, exercising, maintaining a positive attitude, practicing meditation, listening to music and imagery are important for building a healthy America."

Honoring RWJ Hamilton Nurses
RWJ Hamilton will honor its outstanding nursing professionals during National Nurses Week, which begins on May 6 (RN Recognition Day) and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. During this week, registered nurses at RWJ Hamilton will be recognized by their colleagues and thanked for their special service.

"We have an incredibly talented team of nurses," says RWJ Hamilton President and CEO Ellen Guarnieri, "Thanks to the dedication they show to their chosen profession each and every day, we all benefit - our patients, medical staff, employees and our community."

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.