Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital honored its nursing staff in conjunction with the hospitals’ National Nurses Week activities.

BRMC presented its Nurse of Distinction in Education Award to Amanda Brzezinski, BSN, RN, and Outstanding Staff Nurse Award to Rachel Dennis, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P.

At OGH, honorees were Nicole Lippert, BSN, RN, Nurse of Distinction; Hortensia Linnecke, BSN, RN, Nurse of Distinction in Education; Laurie Stewart, RN, Outstanding Staff Nurse; Julie Kenyon, BSN, RN, CIC, Community Nurse of Distinction; Susan Yeager, NA, Outstanding Nurse Assistant; and Brandi Murray, LPN, Outstanding LPN.

“Nursing is not a job. It’s a calling like no other and over the past year, that calling has been tested like never before. I’m honored to recognize this year’s outstanding nurses as we celebrate National Nurses Week at BRMC and OGH. Their dedication, compassion and commitment to our patients is recognized this week and each and every week of the year,” said Jeff Zewe, RN, president, chief executive officer, BRMC, OGH.

“Amanda and Rachel are outstanding nurses who show true compassion and empathy to all of their patients at an exemplary level,” said Paula Platko, RN, director of nursing, BRMC.

“It is a privilege to recognize our nursing award winners. They all display three commonalities: compassion, caring and commitment to their profession and above all, to their patients,” said Gail Bagazzoli, BSN, RN, chief nursing officer, OGH.

Brzezinski, Dennis, Lippert and Linnecke were also nominees for the Western New York Professional Nurses Association Nurse of Distinction Award. Along with nurses from all Kaleida Health facilities, they were recognized in the May 9 edition of the Buffalo News.