[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO ELLIE POWELL

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                          HON. JON C. PORTER-

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ellie Powell who has 
distinguished herself as an outstanding and devoted professional in her 
field as a Registered Nurse.
  Ellie has a long and distinguished career as a nursing professional. 
Her career in nursing started in 1959 as an Operating Room Nurse at 
Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania. In 1960, Ellie became 
an Operating Room Heart Scrub Nurse at Geisinger Medical Center in 
Danville, Pennsylvania. Following a short time at Geiringer, Ellie 
became a United States Air Force Nurse, serving at both Cannon Air 
Force Base and Royal Air Force Weathersfield until 1963. In 1964, she 
moved to Sumter, South Carolina and began working as a Medical/Surgical 
Staff Nurse at Toomey Medical Center. Ellie again relocated to Liberal, 
Kansas in 1966, where she became a Medical/Surgical Charge Nurse at 
Southwest Medical Center and subsequently became a staff nurse then a 
nursing supervisor. In 1977, Ellie moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado 
where she began her tenure as a staff nurse and eventually became a 
nursing supervisor at Penrose Community Hospital. While at Penrose, 
Ellie taught the first Nursing Diagnosis Class in Colorado Springs. She 
also served as Chairperson of the Policy and Procedures Committee. 
Ellie moved to Valley Hospital Medical Center in 1989 to become a 
Medical Surgical Staff Nurse and is presently still serving in a number 
of different capacities at Valley Hospital. Over the course of her 
tenure at Valley Hospital, Ellie has served as Clinical Director of 
Ancillary Services, Clinical Director of Medical/Surgical Services, and 
Nursing Supervisor. Ellie has also served on a number of committees 
during her time with Valley Hospital Medical Center including the 
Performance Improvement Clinical Committee, the Performance Improvement 
Operational Committee, the Ethics Committee and the Patient Safety 
Council.
  Over the course of her distinguished nursing career Ellie has 
received a number of accolades. In 1995, she was a Nurse of the Year 
Runner-up, in October 2004 she received the Service Excellence Silver 
Star from Valley Hospital Medical Center and the Service Employee of 
the Quarter Award. Ellie was also named the March of Dimes 
``Distinguished Nurse of Southern Nevada'' in 2006. In addition to her 
numerous professional awards and honors, Ellie has been published twice 
and is very active in a number of professional associations.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Ellie Powell. Her professional 
expertise and caring nature have greatly enriched the lives of those in 
the Las Vegas community. I commend Ellie for her efforts and commitment 
to her patients and to our community.

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