Contact: Jill Holder

Juanita Solseng, (left) is awarded the M.J. Dickson Quality Nursing Care Award for her commitment to professional nursing over the past year by Karen Stefaniak, associate hospital director and chief nursing officer.

UK Hospital officials awarded Special Recognition Award to the Critical Care Services Administrative Council for meeting criteria of vision, innovation, risk taking, collaboration and magnetic leadership. This is the first year for this award.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2004) -- University of Kentucky Hospital faculty and staff join other hospitals across the nation in honoring registered nurses during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2004.

During a reception for UK nurses on May 6, officials presented two nurses with UK Hospital’s top two nursing awards, the M.J. Dickson Quality Nursing Care Award and the Diana Weaver Leadership/Management Award.

Karen Stefaniak, Ph.D., associate hospital director and chief nursing officer, handed out the awards.

"The selection committee’s decisions were difficult because all of the nominees were excellent and truly represented the amazing qualities of our entire nursing staff," she said.

Juanita Solseng, R.N., who works in the Cardiac Catheterization Recovery Unit of UK Hospital, was awarded the M.J. Dickson Quality Nursing Care Award. This award is given to a staff nurse who has shown a commitment to professional nursing over the past year.

Teresa Chase, R.N., who works as a patient care manager at UK Children's Hospital, was awarded the Diana Weaver Leadership/Management Award. This award is given to a nurse who has shown dynamic leadership skills over the past year.

Peers nominate staff for both of these awards.

UK Hospital officials also presented the Markey Cancer Center Medical Oncology Unit with the Magnet Recognition Award, which recognizes team members on a unit for nursing excellence in creating an environment for professional practice through role modeling, coaching, teaching and advocacy. The magnet award was instituted in October 2001 when UK Hospital was named a Magnet Hospital in recognition of outstanding nursing care.

UK Hospital officials awarded Special Recognition Award to the Critical Care Services Administrative Council for meeting criteria of vision, innovation, risk taking, collaboration and magnetic leadership. This is the first year for this award.

"The award recipients stand out as mentors and leaders in their profession," Stefaniak said.

Additional receptions will be held from 6 to 8 a.m. Friday, May 7, and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 8, in UK Hospital, room H-133.