Verde Valley Medical Center Earns Prestigious

Arizona Nurses Association Award for Employer Excellence

Mayor Diane Joens was honored to attend an award ceremony at the Verde Valley Medical Center on Oct. 23, 2007. The Arizona Nurses Association presented the 2007 Employer Excellence Award to Verde Valley Medical Center during the very special celebration.

                                                                                                                  Photo by Marguerite Lauri

Celebrants from left: VVMC President Jim Sinek, RN Danette Anderson, Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, RN Stephanie LaPierre, RN Mirka Nieminen, RN Dee Tasa, Arizona Nurses Association Executive Director Joyce Benjamin, Continuing Education and Chair for Scholarship and Awards of AzNA Dr. Jeannette Sasmor, and Vice President of Nursing Services Cyndie Koopsen.

Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) Employer Excellence Awards Criteria

  • Promotes the image of nurses and nursing throughout the year
  • Promotes professional autonomy through internal structures which enhance nursing input into decisions and operational policy formation
  • Supports nurses and nursing by providing equitable mechanisms for deliver of nursing care (i.e., staffing and scheduling, computerization of documentation, or like mechanisms)
  • Recognizes those nurses who pursue excellence through education and/or certification
  • Encourages nurses' involvement in professional organizations
  • Promotes collaboration and collegiality among professionals
  • Demonstrates a willingness to try innovative approaches to patient care delivery
  • Demonstrates a willingness to try innovative approaches to patient care delivery
  • Demonstrates support for and promotion of nursing research
  • Is a leader in the community in salary and benefits for nurses
  • Maintains a positive working relationship with Health Care Reporter Excellence
  • Portrays nurses as competent, knowledgeable health care providers
  • Identifies the unique contributions of nurses in the provision of health care
  • Presents health-related issues as having multiple dimensions, and nurses as key players in the issues
  • Utilizes nurses' expertise when preparing articles
  • Maintains a positive relationship with the NzNA

The Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) is the only statewide professional association of registered nurses, and is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (ANA).

AzNA's Mission

"To advance, promote and protect the value, contributions and development of Arizona's professional nurses. "

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