[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 64 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EXCELLENCE IN NURSING

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I celebrate the hard work and 
dedication of all nurses that serve the veterans of our great Nation. 
In particular, I congratulate the recipients of the Secretary's Award 
for Excellence in Nursing and Advancement of Nursing Programs. These 
recipients were nominated for dedication to their profession and for 
outstanding service to our veterans and to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, VA. The honor bestowed on these individuals is greatly 
deserved.
  The 2005 Nursing Award Recipients for Excellence in Nursing include: 
Marthe Moseley, Kim Pyatt, Ferris Jones, and John Cheng. The recipients 
of the 2005 Award for the Advancement of Nursing Programs are Timothy 
B. Williams and Rebecca Newson Williams. All these individuals have 
demonstrated high level of achievement and dedication through their 
service with VA.
  Marthe Moseley, PhD, RN, CCRN, CCNS, is an award recipient from the 
South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Dr. Moseley coordinates and 
evaluates integrated programs that demonstrate clinical excellence in 
the field of orientation, competency development and implementation. 
She has been a key consultant to entities such as the National Dialysis 
Conference; Brook Army Medical Center; and Wilford Hall Medical Center, 
Air Force. Dr. Moseley has been a leader in improving the quality and 
effectiveness of care for critically ill patients.
  Kim Pyatt, RN, BSN, of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, 
has been an outstanding and positive nurse for the past 5 years. She 
served as a staff nurse and a night charge nurse in the Nursing Home 
Care Unit, NHCU, before being selected as the Geriatrics and Extended 
Care Wound coordinator in 2002. Ms. Pyatt has a great passion for 
veterans and for providing excellent nursing care in the NHCU.
  Ferris Jones, LPN, works in the Puget Sound Health Care System with 
the Mental Health Service in the Homeless Care Line, Domiciliary Care 
Program, and also through a residential program that treats veterans 
for post traumatic sress disorder. His strong medical background, 
training in the U.S. Army, and experience in mental health have worked 
together to set a standard of excellence. He has contributed to quality 
of care through evaluations of procedures for the Domiciliary Care 
Program and the development of an educational orientation video for 
those newly admitted to the program.
  John Cheng, from the Northport VA Medical Center, has been a nursing 
assistant in Extended Care since 1998. Mr. Cheng as continued to 
provide top quality, as well as encouragement, to his veteran patients. 
Mr. Cheng recently spent a great deal of time with a young traumatic 
brain injury patient who had been admitted to the NCHU. During this 
time, Mr. Cheng demonstrated compassion and selfless dedication to 
treating patients. He did the little things that are necessary during a 
time of extended treatment, such as developing a relationship with this 
young patient. Mr. Cheng is also dedicated to professional growth. He 
is the only employee to graduate from the VA-sponsored Licensed 
Practical Nurse, LPN, program and is now working on achieving his 
registered nurse degree.
  Timothy B. Williams is the director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care 
System. Mr. Williams has worked closely with nursing and physician 
leadership to implement innovative strategies to optimally deliver 
patient care, in spite of limited resources. He has continuously sought 
opportunities to ensure nurse support and to encourage professional 
development of nursing at all levels. Mr. Williams has also been an 
effective supporter of VA efforts to recruit and retain nursing staff.
  Rebecca Newsom Williams, RN, MPH, is the associate director for 
Patient/Nursing Services for the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care 
System. In her role, Ms. Williams directs the integration of all 
nursing related activities throughout the VA Eastern Colorado Health 
Care System, in collaboration with the executive leadership team. Ms. 
Williams has demonstrated excellence in her leadership by recognizing 
the need for combined research and clinical practices.
  As you can see, these phenomenal nurses deserve to be applauded for 
their accomplishments. Through their commitment and compassion to our 
Nation's heroes, they themselves also become heroes to our veterans.
  As ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I again 
congratulate these distinguished award recipients. They demonstrate the 
need and importance of excellence at every level of care giving, for 
every patient. In this time of critical need for nurses, it is 
imperative that we thank these nurses who have chosen to serve in the 
VA health care system for their diligence and dedication.

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