ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES NURSE AND FRIEND OF NURSING FOR 2018

Berlin, Md. - Atlantic General recently recognized Paula Dize, RN, CCRN, as its Nurse of the Year for 2018, as well as Regina Bailey, a tech in the AGH Med-Surg department and the recipient of the 2018 Friend of Nursing award.

National surveys continue to place nurses at the top when it comes to the most trusted profession, according to Gallup polls measuring honesty and ethics in various fields. It is through the actions and words of nurses that trust between provider and patient is developed, and this is especially important in Maryland, where healthcare organizations have been working hard to anticipate the needs of patients and communities on a deeper level.

Often it is the nurse who is able to forge the connection that puts an emotional and professional face to Atlantic General Hospital.

Dize received multiple nominations by her fellow AGH associates. One nomination stated “her commitment to our facility shows in her manner of support towards her patients and her professionalism.”

Dize is described as a nurse who exceeds in her leadership roles.

“She treats her patients as if they were her own family,” stated one of her fellow AGH associates.

“Described as a mentor, an educator, a leader and someone who inspires passion, the nominations cited multiple examples of care above and beyond the call of duty and teaching expertise towards her colleagues. She makes me proud to be in the nursing profession as a leader alongside a rising leader,” added Colleen Wareing, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at Atlantic General Hospital.

On receiving the Nurse of the Year award, Dize said, "I am honored and grateful to be a part of the AGH family. I feel very privileged to work with such talented and passionate individuals. Being recognized by my colleagues for a job that I love is an amazing and humbling experience.”

Other nominees included Amy Bohtling, Kelli Duckett, Mary Wilgus, Shannon Simpson, Tanna Bryant, Nettie Widgeon, Wendi McDonough, and Bev Ward. A subcommittee of the Professional Nurse Council selects the recipient from a pool of those nominated by fellow AGH associates and previous DAISY nurses.

The 2018 Friend of Nursing award recipient, Regina Bailey, was nominated by multiple staff for going above and beyond in patient care, as well as taking pride in what she does. One of her nominations said, “She comes to work with a bright smile and is always positive.”

Mary Mullins, chair of the Professional Nurses Council at AGH, stated, “It was a great year for the nursing nominations with outstanding submissions to choose from.”

“Without excellent partners, techs, CNAs, MOAs, etc., we cannot be great nurses,” stated Wareing.

About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) counties since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md., combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology and services. It provides quality specialty care such as weight loss surgery, orthopedics, outpatient infusion for individuals with cancer or blood/autoimmune disorders, retina surgery and a comprehensive women’s diagnostic center. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 40 primary care providers and specialists, care for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

Caption:

(From L to R): Niki Morris, 2017 Nurse of the Year; Colleen Wareing, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at AGH; the 2018 Atlantic General Hospital Nurse of the Year, Paula Dize, RN, CCRN; Atif Zeeshan, Intensivist in the ICU; and Scott Rose, Stroke Center Director.

(From L to R): Dr. Gregory Stamnas; The 2017 AGH Friend of Nursing recipient, Nick Bartolomeo; The 2018 AGH Friend of Nursing recipient, Regina Bailey; and Colleen Wareing, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at AGH.

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