Four Lexington Medical Center Nurses Earn Palmetto Gold Awards

LEXINGTON, SC – Four Lexington Medical Center nurses have been honored with this year’s prestigious Palmetto Gold award from the South Carolina Nurses Foundation. Lindsay Coppney, Lisa Lewis, Sheryl Sturkie andBeverly Summer received the award, which recognizes 100 nurses from across South Carolina each year for excellence and commitment to the nursing profession.

Employers throughout the state nominate nurses for the Palmetto Gold

Award. Nominees must meet four criteria:

• Promotes and advances the profession of nursing in a positive way in the practice setting or in the community;
• Displays exceptional caring and commitment to patients, families, student nurses and colleagues;
• Demonstrates leadership and assists others in growth and development;
• Promotes the profession of nursing and contributes to the advancement of nursing through civic, community and/or professional association activities.

 

Here is some information on each of Lexington Medical Center’s 2015 Palmetto Gold recipients from their nominating forms.

 

 

Lindsay Coppney, RN, RNC, IBCLC

Lindsay, who has worked in the hospital’s Center for Best Practice and as a postpartum nurse in the Mother/Baby unit, is respected for her unwavering dedication to quality care, patient safety and high standards of practice. She doesn’t rely on experience alone when caring for patients. As a leader and resource, she stays abreast of current nursing practices and contributes innovative ideas to improve processes. She monitors compliance with bedside reporting and critical congenital heart defect screenings as well as ensures compliance with mandatory recording logs. Lindsay also encourages continuing education. She was one of the first nurses in her unit to obtain national certification and recently earned a master’s degree. In the community, she promotes education as co-director of a local mentoring program, which matches students with mentors in their ideal professions.

 

 

 

 

Lisa Lewis, RN, CCRN

For more than 35 years, Lisa’s commitment to patient care has been second only to her dedication to health education. Working as a cardiac rehabilitation nurse, she is passionate about teaching patients the importance of exercise, proper diet, stress relief and regularly scheduled physician visits. Because of Lisa’s efforts, the education class for phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients boasts a participation rate of 67 percent. She also implemented a smoking-cessation program for the hospital, which has a 60 percent success rate for participants becoming smoke-free. This is significantly higher than the national average of 17–19 percent. Additionally, Lisa secured a grant that enables the smoking-cessation program to be offered at no cost, making it accessible for the entire community.

 

 

 

 

Sheryl Sturkie, RN, RN-BC

Sheryl, an inpatient nurse at the hospital, readily shares her knowledge with others. Her positive attitude, extensive experience and commitment to nursing directly affect recruitment and retention. Sheryl initiated and led a comprehensive program that includes national certification recognition, preceptor incentives, and improved communication strategies for nurses, physicians and nurse technicians. As a result of her efforts, the number of certified nurses on her unit increased by 9 percent and nurse turnover decreased from 26 percent to 17 percent. Sheryl was also instrumental in the implementation of a new acuity system, which matches the needs of patients to the competency of nurses. She strives to ensure that her care encompasses the emotional, spiritual and clinical needs of patients.

 

 

 

 

Beverly Summer, RN, WHNP-BC

Beverly, a women’s health nurse practitioner at Vista Women’s Healthcare, has nurtured compassionate relationships with patients since her nursing career began more than 30 years ago. She has served women in labor and delivery, on medical and surgical units, and in public health. Beverly’s relationships with patients, commitment to continuing education and enthusiasm for her profession set the standard for all clinicians. She regularly serves as a mentor for nurse practitioner students, providing them with invaluable training and experience. She also serves as a clinical instructor for Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, S.C. Her practice extends out of the office as well. Beverly established a gynecology clinic in Newberry, S.C., that provides care to uninsured women in the area. She continues to volunteer there once a week.

 

 

 

The nurses received their awards at a gala in Columbia on March 28. Thank you to the 2015 Palmetto Gold recipients for your dedication to LMC and our community. Congratulations!

 

 

About Lexington Medical Center

Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 6,000 health care professionals.  The network also includes comprehensive cardiovascular and oncology care affiliated with Duke Medicine, an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas and 58 physician practices.  At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center has won “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for 12 years, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times, “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent, the “Consumer Choice Award” from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious “Summit Award” from Press Ganey for outstanding patient satisfaction.  Visit LexMed.com