Rugwizangoga Receives 2010 Nursing Spectrum Award

Egidia Rugwizangoga with patients in Rwanda during a recent Team Heart mission.

Egidia Rugwizangoga, BSN, RN, of Tower 12, was honored with a 2010 Nursing Spectrum Nurse Excellence Award for community service this spring. She was selected as the award recipient for New England from a group of four finalists who have made significant professional or voluntary contributions to improve patient care.

“Egidia has a tireless commitment to volunteerism, and she has offered superb expertise in helping to advance BWH’s multicultural workforce and volunteer in local and international communities,” said Patrice Nicholas, DNSc, DHC, (Hon.), MPH, RN, ANP, FAAN, director of Global Health and Academic Partnerships, in the Center for Nursing Excellence, who nominated Rugwizangoga for this highly selective award. “I know she is embarking on a path of great success in nursing.”

Rugwizangoga is known throughout BWH for her generosity in volunteering her time and talents for a number of efforts, including Team Heart’s cardiac surgery missions to Rwanda. A native of Rwanda, Rugwizangoga has traveled back to the country to volunteer as a nurse for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. She also helps the team with fund-raising efforts and translating and interpreting teaching materials related to cardiac surgery.

At BWH, Rugwizangoga serves as a mentor for students and newly-licensed nurses, has presented at cultural grand rounds and shared her expertise on global nursing in a class for newly-licensed nurses. She also has helped to develop a partnership with her alma mater, UMass Boston School of Nursing, to advance a multicultural nursing workforce.

According to Nursing Spectrum, the award recipients in each category “have found ways to raise the bar for their peers and the quality of life of their patients.” Rugwizangoga will go on to a national competition in the community service category.