Oncology Nurse Navigator Lilian Sweeney, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., C.B.C.N., who works for the Breast Center at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, was recognized for Excellence in Nursing by the Good Samaritan Foundation today during its annual Excellence in Nursing Awards Luncheon.
See Lilian's story at http://tinyurl.com/lilians-ein14
The event honors nurses who demonstrate a passion for the nursing profession and the desire to excel beyond expectations. Sweeney, who lives in Richmond, Texas, was selected from 187 nurses nominated in Texas for the organization’s Gold Medal in the Non-Hospital Based Care Category.
Sweeney assists patients at every stage – screening, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery – to ensure they encounter as few barriers as possible. Facilitating the hospital’s monthly Breast Cancer Support Group, she provides emotional support, cancer education, and information about available resources.
“Lilian is very much in touch with the emotional needs of her patients and is an active member of the committee that piloted the Oncology Distress Screening Program for Memorial Hermann,” said Fawnya Doiron, Breast Cancer Center Outpatient Imaging manager. “She is a co-founder and facilitator of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital’s Genetic Counseling Program and is helping to implement a High-Risk Breast Clinic for patients who need to be closely monitored for signs of breast cancer.”
Founded in 1951, the Good Samaritan Foundation encourages nursing excellence through a variety of supported programs: assisting nursing students with the cost of their professional education, faculty development at nursing schools, continuing education for practicing nurses, innovative nursing research, and recognition and reward programs for nurses who demonstrate excellence in teaching and practice.
The Good Samaritan Foundation created the Excellence in Nursing Awards to recognize nursing’s “best and brightest.” Nurses are nominated by their peers and selected by a distinguished committee of nursing leaders. Nominated nurses must exemplify excellence in teaching, mentoring, leadership, and service. By rewarding exemplary teachers and practitioners, Good Samaritan is helping retain quality nurses in this vital profession.
Approximately 760 registered nurses and 23 licensed vocational nurses work at Memorial Hermann Southwest, including 240 board-certified nurses. Board-certification of nurses involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation that is designed and administered by specialists in the specific area of medicine.