January 18, 2008

New award honors clinical support staff

The MGH's clinical support staff includes many groups throughout Patient Care Services and forms an integral part of an interdisciplinary health care team. In the words of Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, senior vice president for Patient Care and chief nurse, "they are some of the best and brightest at the MGH."

At the Jan. 3 ceremony for the first annual Norman Knight Clinical Support Excellence Award in the O'Keeffe Auditorium, Edna Gavin, a patient care associate for Bigelow 13, was recognized for embodying this new award's three criteria: patient advocacy, commitment to quality patient care, and compassion and caring.

Associate Chief Nurse Jackie Somerville, RN, PhDc, remarked that "the most effective system for patient safety is having a good team." She congratulated the award's 10 nominees, who were applauded for their communication skills, generosity of experience, initiative, and cultural and ethical competence.

Anthony DiGiovine, RN, the nursing director for the Transplant, Burn, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit on Bigelow 13, then introduced Gavin as the award recipient. DiGiovine, who has known Gavin for more than 20 years, described her as "caring and fair." He said, "She always works to include everyone, and her perspective and insight are invaluable. Nurses and physicians ask for her input, and in 20 years, I have never heard anyone say anything negative about her. Edna is at her best every day."

Gavin, who began her career at the MGH in 1969, expressed heartfelt thanks to her family, friends and coworkers. "Bigelow 13 truly is my second family," she said.
The closing remarks were delivered by Norman Knight, a longtime supporter of MGH Patient Care Services, who congratulated Gavin and the nominees. He then presented Ives Erickson and the Norman Knight Center with a painting of a ballerina by artist Franco Metania to be displayed at the Knight Nursing Center
for Clinical and Professional Development on Founders 3.

From left, DiGiovine, Somerville, Gavin, Knight and Ives Erickson