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Cleveland Clinic Earns Award Named After Nursing Official, High School Student Earns LPN Pin, and More Nursing News

Nurse reads industry news on digital tablet

The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) gives its inaugural Kathleen Singleton Award to Cleveland Clinic. A 17-year-old high school student in Milwaukee has earns her nursing degree prior to graduating as a senior. Bemidji State University names a new chief nurse administrator and associate dean of nursing. Read on for this week’s nursing news and insights.

Cleveland Clinic earns inaugural award named after nursing official

Officials with the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) have announced that a new award named in honor of one of the organization’s former presidents is being given to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

The Kathleen Singleton Award will annually recognize healthcare institutions that provide exemplary support to med-surg nursing units and that have an outstanding record of promoting a healthy workplace environment with a “patient first” philosophy. The award is named after Kathleen Singleton, MSN, APRN-CNS, CMSRN, who served as AMSN president from 2008-10 and is one of the association’s most dedicated and respected leaders. 

According to AMSN officials, Cleveland Clinic was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the award, which is cosponsored by Medtronic Inc., a medical device company, for its robust support of nursing education and clinical competency, and for fostering respectful nurse-nurse, nurse-physician, and interprofessional collaborations. 

“Cleveland Clinic embodies institutional support for medical-surgical nursing units,” said Summer Bryant, DNP, RN, CENP, CMSRN, current AMSN president. “Along with promoting autonomy of nursing practice and nursing leadership, Cleveland Clinic advocates for and sustains a culture of environmental safety for patients and nurses.” 

Bryant said that Cleveland Clinic has been a strong supporter of med-surg nurses in their institutions by supporting certified medical-surgical registered nurse (CMSRN®) certification through AMSN’s FailSafe Certification Program™ and by demonstrating excellence in med-surg nursing with two Cleveland Clinic units having received AMSN’s PRISM Awards.® 

“The facility that receives this award — in this case, Cleveland Clinic as the first recipient — recognizes medical-surgical nurses as clinical leaders who function as a team within a nursing unit, and not just workers on a regular floor,” Singleton said. “This aspect of the award is extremely important to me personally, and to all medical-surgical nurses, as it captures their unique and essential contributions within the health care system.” 

A resident of Rocky River, OH, Singleton has been a member of AMSN since 1994 and has served in a variety of roles in addition to her presidency, including treasurer. She was also previously the Northeast Ohio Chapter president and served in multiple local chapter roles. Over time, she participated in more than 10 AMSN committees and task forces.

Singleton recently retired after working for nearly 50 years in a variety of nursing positions, including critical care and med-surg. Singleton has also authored several nursing publications and presented at international, national, and local settings.

The many awards she has received during her career include the AMSN President’s Award (2013); Zielony Nursing Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Lifetime Achievement Award (2013); and The Cleveland Plain Dealer “Best of the Best” (1994).

“This award is a testament to dedication, compassion, and professionalism of our medical-surgical nurses and nurse leaders,” said Meredith Foxx, MSN, MBA, APRN, PCNS-BC, PPCNP-BC, CPON, executive chief nursing officer at the Cleveland Clinic. “Cleveland Clinic Nursing Institute supports medical-surgical nursing at the highest level, with certification support, shared governance councils, and a focused group of medical-surgical nurse leaders who are committed to growing this group of nursing professions.”

Related: Leadership and Nursing Practice Specialty CE Courses

​High school student earns LPN pin

A 17-year-old high school student in Milwaukee has earned her nursing degree prior to graduating as a senior. According to a recent report by WTMJ-TV, Imunique Triplett is among the first group of students in a program partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).

According to the report, she has already been hired by an area nursing facility. While thousands of high school students have previously completed dual enrollment programs at MATC, Erin Cherney, MATC’s manager of high school relations, says most students don’t finish a two-year secondary degree before they graduate high school.

New chief nurse named at Bemidji State University

Diana Kostrzewski, PhD, RN, has been named the chief nurse administrator and associate dean of nursing at Bemidji State University. According to a report by The Bemidji Pioneer, Kostrzewski previously served as interim dean at the University of North Dakota.

Prior to that appointment, she was a clinical associate professor and graduate program chair as a member of the college’s faculty, served as the assistant vice president of nursing and national dean of nursing for Zenith Education Group, Minneapolis, MN, and was the dean of nursing at the Denver School of Nursing.

Kostrzewski has also held faculty and administrative nursing positions at Rasmussen College, Colorado Technical University, Lake Superior College, and the College of St. Scholastica, according to the report. She earned her practical nursing degree at the former East Grand Forks Technical College (now Northland Community and Technical College), her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and her master’s degree from the University of North Dakota.

Kostrzewski also holds a doctorate in post-secondary and adult education from Capella University.

Views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Elite Learning or Colibri Group. Media referenced in this news round-up does not constitute an endorsement.