Over a year’s time we have celebrated many accomplishments as a nursing team. I am proud of your high quality care delivered to patients presenting some of the most complex cases in this region and across the nation. You have excelled and for all of this, I thank you.

It is apparent that others share my pride in your work. In 2002, many nurses have been the recipients of an array of awards. Our team is strengthened from such nurses--bearers of the Thomson Leadership Award, Thomson Compassionate Care Scholarships, the YMCA’s Black Achievers Award, the Essence of Nursing Award and the Mary S. Fay Enrichment Awards, to name only a few. Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed reading about other exceptional caregivers who just happen to have completed the Boston Marathon, served as the Assistant to the Chief Nurse of the Air Force, assisted in the completion of a BWH quadruple transplant, participated on the board of a national professional organization, or served as a contributing author to an article in a highly respected publication. The combination of all these individuals makes for an extraordinary synergy in the Tower, BWH’s outpatient settings, the OR and all other areas where nursing is the driving force to quality patient care.

Entering my third year as the Chief Nursing Officer at BWH, my pride continues to grow as I observe how well our team works together. As we added more than 300 new colleagues—newly licensed nursing graduates or those individuals who were new to BWH—I take comfort in knowing that they are trained by the very best in the nursing profession.

The BWH nursing educational programs and series that are available to us benefit veteran and new nurses alike and only better our delivery of care. As we continue to formulate and deliver teaching programs that tackle diversity, patient safety, compassionate care and practice standards, we only enhance our already strong nursing staff.

I am confident that we will keep this momentum moving forward in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Nancy Kruger, DNSc, RN
Vice President, Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer