PNA-NY Nurse Excellence Awards

NURSE EXCELLENCE AWARD in NURSING ADMINISTRATION

CYNTHIA MARGALIT, MSA, RN
Director of Nursing/Senior Associate Administrator
Downstate Medical Center

Ms. Cynthia Margalit has been for the last five years, a driving force behind nursing leadership at Downstate Medical Center. Arriving at Downstate Medical Center in March 2003, after her significant contribution to Interfaith Medical Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Cindy quickly sheparded the Psychiatric Unit through its transition from having all voluntary status patients to the acceptance of involuntary patients as well. To ensure the safety of patients and staff following this needed change, Ms. Margalit partnered with her staff to develop a plan for the 'de-escalation of potential violence". The procedure has resulted in a significant reduction in the needs for restraints and seclusion of our patients in the Psychiatric Unit. Indeed, the plan was awarded first place in the poster conference of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Conference in Nashville, TN in November 2005. With her typical foresight, this protocol anticipated the mandate by the Office of Mental Health for a "violence free and coercion free" environment on psychiatric units.

Cindy has been one of the major planners for a major renovation project on the Downstate Inpatient Psychiatric Unit involving increased bed capacity and new facilities for treatment and training. In spite of her wide ranging administrative responsibilities, Cindy has remained close to the day-to-day work in Psychiatry and Medicine Departments. She has lent her considerable talents and knowledge to staff of all disciplines as a leader and mentor. She is involved in a project to achieve "magnet status" for our center. Certainly, Cindy herself has served to draw and retain a new generation of clinicians to Downstate which should aid in making this a reality.

It is with great pride and honor for the Philippine Nurses Association of New York, Incorporated to recognize Cynthia Margalit, as the recipient of the Nurse Excellence Award in Administration.

NURSE EXCELLENCE AWARD in CLINICAL PRACTICE

Esther was introduced to OR nursing when she came to the United States in 1980 working in her first job at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. She later joined the Montefiore OR training program in 1982 and has been there ever since. In 1984, she was asked by the neurological supervisor to join her team.

The letter of recommendation provided by Doctor James Goodrich, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci (Honoris Causa), Director and Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine best describes Esther's excellent dedication to patient care. To quote some of the excerpts:

"Esther and I go back to 1986 when I first came to Montefiore and we have worked closely together over the last twenty-two years. To describe Esther's contribution to Montefiore and especially to the neurosurgical team would take too many pages of details, as her contributions have been enormous over the years. Therefore I would like to break down Esther's contributions in a series of unique areas.
As a person you could not ask for a more reasonable, skilled, intelligent and dedicated person in the OR. Her commitment is never short of 100% and she takes on every patient and case as a personal commitment. Her attention to detail has literally become legendary in the OR and there is no one else like her to my knowledge in our system.
As an OR nurse, Esther is truly in the top 1% of people that I have ever worked with and that comment reflects on any level of our hospital care system. As a junior nurse in 1986 she was clearly talented and devoted to what she does. When it came time for to assume the role of head nurse for neurosurgery she did it with considerable skill and dedication. She runs the most efficient and clearly dedicated team in the OR.
When I reflect back over some nearly six thousand personal neurosurgical cases at MMC the one that still stands out is the Aguirre twins. To get those boys into the OR, draped, positioned, handling two different sets of surgical teams required a symphony conductor and here Esther came through with unbelievable skill. What many people do not realize is how important she was to the mother and the family. Being a Filipino she knew the traditions and how to respect the family in this most incredibly difficult situation. I call her the stealth bomber as she rapidly identifies the problem, never complains about it and even more rarely comments on it as she just stealthy goes in and gets the job done.
It has truly been my privilege; and I do not use that word lightly, to have been able to work with this immensely talented, gifted and most caring nurse. She is truly in the upper 1% of people in life that I have met. I cannot think of anyone that I have worked with that deserves this honor more than Esther - she is truly one of those giants upon whom shoulders we have all stood upon as truly unique and quite special."

The successful separation of the craniopagus twins led Esther to share her nursing experience in numerous workshops, educational sessions and grand rounds. In 2007, Esther was the keynote speaker of the Pediatric Neurosurgical Nursing Group in the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons held in Liverpool, England. She was featured in New York Nurse, the official publication of NYSNA, "Nursing a Miracle-RNs Bring "Pure Nursing "to Twin Separation". She recently submitted a manuscript "Successful Staged Separation of Craniopagus Twins" to the AORN magazine.

NURSE EXCELLENCE AWARD in EDUCATION

Felicidad Nubla Valentino, EdD, RN
Director of Staff Education
St. Elizabeth Ann Health Care & Rehab Center

Felicidad Valentino, also known as "Chi" to friends and colleagues is a graduate of the Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing in Manila. She received her Bachelors Of Science In Nursing and Masters Of Arts with major in Nursing administration and doctorate degree in education for school administration from the Philippine Women's University. She is currently was taking Post-Masters Advance Certification for Family Nurse Practitioner at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.

Chi went on to become an adjunct and then full professor at the University's College of Nursing. In the U.S. Chi has been on the faculty of the Practical Nursing Program of Union County New Jersey and over-the-years a well-known instructor in Nursing Assistant Courses in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Chi is also a certified instructor of Basic Life Support & AED, Infection Control and Barrier Precautions Provider.

In the Philippines' Chi was an esteemed contributor to professional works including: "NURSING CARE OF PATIENTS IN SURGERY" published & distributed by Merriam School & Office Supplies and "SURGICAL SPECIALTIES." published & distributed by Antonio Enterprises and unpublished thesis on "PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE CLINICAL AREAS OF TWO SELECTED SCHOOLS OF NURSING."

Since 1997 Chi has been the Director of Staff Education at the St. Elizabeth Ann Health Care & Rehab Center on Staten Island and as a leader in professional nursing contributes to the parent organization, St Vincent Catholic Medical Center's Continuing Care Division. In that role Chi has been a pioneer in developing and implementing high standards of quality care for residents of nursing homes, as well as being actively involved in the development of new policies and procedures to address generational changes in treatment, standards of practice and regulatory compliance. As part of her work Chi orients new staff and is well regarded for upgrading and enhancing professional skills. For decades Chi has also been identified as a leading advocate for role and value of interdisciplinary treatment teams.

In 2006 Chi was awarded the FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE Excellence award by Rodem International Staffing & Recruiting Agency.

PNA-NY is extremely lucky to have Chi as an active member of our association. She helped facilitate the continuing education credits of nurses in her facility through PNA-NY, Inc. It is with great pride and honor to recognize Felicidad Valentino, as the recipient of the Nurse Excellence Award in Education.

NURSE EXCELLENCE AWARD in COMMUNITY SERVICE

Award of Excellence in Community Service


LEONARDA ZAFRA VILLARAMA SANTOS, BSN, RN
Oncology Staff Nurse
Lenox Hill Hospital

Nardz Santos is a certified Oncology, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, and Utilization nurse. She took her certification in Health Care Risk Management from New York School of Medical Law and graduated from UP-PGH School of Nursing. Outside of nursing, she is a ballroom dancer, prayer counselor, a gifted fundraiser and a humble and obedient servant of the Lord acclaiming her healing gift all for the glory of God. She incorporates praying to her patients in her daily nursing care. Among her numerous accomplishments were as follows:

" Joined Philippine Medical Mission for the past 6 years with BLD-Newark and BLD-Long Island
" Helped in building a home for Gawad Kalinga project in San Ildefonso, Bulacan
" Organized a fund raising for the capital restoration of the church
" PACBC Secretary (Philippine American Community of Bergen County) for the past 6 years
" PACBC award recipient for service and dedication awards
" Fund raiser of at least 13 Filipino-American organizations
" President-elect UPAA-NJ (University of the Philippines Alumni Association of New Jersey). Co-chaired two fund raisers for UP scholarships
" Chairlady of UPAA-NJ's 3-one act play "Migration Blues"
" Mrs. PAPI in 2003 (Performing Arts Philippines, Inc.)
" Mrs. PDOC in 2001 (Philippine Day Organizing Council)
" President of the UPAA (United Pilipino American Association) in 2001
" Participant at Nick Libramonte's "Rigodon de Honor", a poverty alleviation project fund raising of the Philippine New York Consulate, July 2000
" Sponsors to the San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, the Santo Nino Buklod of Bergen County, World Apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima, and the Filipino Apostolate of New York's tree of life
" Solicitor during the Employees Blood Donor Drive at Lenox Hill and a former member of Policy and Procedures Committee
" NYPNU union delegate for several years

She has been with Lenox Hill Hospital for the last 26 years and currently working in the Oncology unit where she also prays for the patients' emotional, physical, and spiritual healing to lighten up and comfort them. She is happily married for 33 years to Ricky, a licensed New Jersey broker, realtor. The love bears three children, Omar, Veronica, Mark and a grand-daughter, Trista Nicole (daughter of Omar & Arlene Alindada).