Furlonge and Villaluz Win Asian-Pacific Islander Nursing Award

Ruby Villaluz and Rhonda Furlonge

Ruby Villaluz, BSN, RN, and Rhonda Furlonge, BSN, RN, were honored as recipients of the 2011 Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Award at a ceremony on June 21.

This is the fourth year the Department of Nursing has honored nurses of Asian/Pacific Island descent who strive to improve culturally-sensitive patient care in their units and help to prepare the next generation of multicultural nurses.

Colleagues of Furlonge, a nurse on Tower 14AB, say that she is masterful at developing a plan of care that takes into account patients’ cultural diversity.

Recently, when caring for a patient of Asian background, Furlonge recognized the stress and anxiety family members felt as their loved one was admitted to the Intermediate Medical Unit on Tower 14AB.

“Rhonda had a clear understanding that this family needed to be part of the delivery of care,” Patricia Brita Rossi, MS, RN, nursing director of Tower 14AB, wrote in Furlonge’s nomination. “She even instructed the rest of the care team on methods of approaching the patient and family that didn’t seem overwhelming or aggressive.”

Villaluz, an Operating Room nurse, was nominated by Joan Vitello, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN, executive director of Perioperative Services.

“Ruby is an extraordinary nurse who is consistently compassionate, patient- and family-focused, and so culturally-sensitive to all who come into her care,” Vitello wrote in her nomination. “Her peers describe her as someone who goes above and beyond to help others.”

During the ceremony, both honorees thanked the Department of Nursing and their colleagues for this recognition.

“It’s such a blessing to be able to come to work at this hospital and to practice alongside the many talented nurses we have here,” said Villaluz.

Furlonge added “The nursing practice changes from time to time, but one thing that hasn’t changed is my commitment and dedication to my patients because each and every one of them deserves the same level of excellence.”