ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES NURSE AND FRIEND OF NURSING FOR 2019

Atlantic General recently recognized Demiah Nooney, RN as its Nurse of the Year for 2019, as well as Betsy Esposito, CPhT, pharmacy purchaser and the recipient of the 2019 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.

Nooney received multiple nominations by her fellow AGH associates. One nomination stated “empathy, excellent collaboration, honesty and integrity are paramount. She will always tell you the truth and is 100 percent dependable.”

Joining the organization in 2005 as a scholarship recipient, Nooney continued her education to become a registered nurse. She worked on the medical surgical unit to provide coverage for the Center for Joint Surgery. Five year later, she joined the inpatient case management department. She later transferred to the emergency department where she currently works as a case manager.

“I love being a part of the AGH family. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity they provided me to pursue my nursing career when I was awarded the James G and Nancy W. Barrett Scholarship,” said Nooney.

Nooney is described as a nurse who is willing to do anything for her patients, always courteous and respectful, even during difficult conversations.

“I am honored to work with all of the nurses at AGH. They are so committed to our patients and our organization. Selecting just one for the Nurse of the Year Award is always a challenge. Demiah stood out to her peers and was selected by a team of those peers. We are so fortunate on the Shore to have such wonderful professional nurses, who are not only smart, but are compassionate,” 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, Nooney said, "I am honored to receive this recognition. It is a privilege to work alongside such an amazing team of skilled and compassionate individuals. The patients I serve, in addition to my AGH family, inspire me every day to continue to improve the health of our community. Without each and every one of them, our organization would not be able to provide the high quality care our community deserves.”

Other nominees included Allison Willey, RN, Amy Bohtling, RN, Kim Richardson, RN and Wendi McDonough, BSN, RN, CPAN, CGRN. A subcommittee of the Professional Nurse Council selects the recipient from a pool of those nominated by fellow AGH associates and previous DAISY Award winners.

The 2019 Friend of Nursing Award recipient, Betsy Esposito, 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 is the behind-the-scenes hero.”

On receiving the Friend of Nursing Award, Esposito said “I love my AGH family. My goal has always been to keep costs to the organization down so that we are able to meet the needs of each of our patients.”

Esposito has been an essential part of AGH for 11 years and is described as always bringing new ideas while helping to reduce costs to ensure that the patients’ needs are met. She will go above and beyond, no matter what effort it takes.

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