Nominations being accepted for 25th Annual Nightingale Awards

Individuals wishing to express their appreciation to a nurse who made a meaningful difference in their life or the life of a loved one now have an opportunity to do so in a very special way.

The People's Choice Award category of the Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence, sponsored by Hour Detroit Magazine, is presented to a nurse who demonstrates exceptional practice and inspires others.

Anyone can nominate an exemplary nurse both quickly and easily by completing a one-page form available at oakland.edu/nightingale. The winner of this award will receive a solid bronze statue of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale and a check for $1,000.

Ideal candidates will be nurses who have provided exceptional care – nurses like last year's People's Choice category winner, oncology nurse Norma Spryszak. She not only developed a comfort cart of CDs and DVDs for patients to enjoy as they received chemotherapy treatments, but also demonstrated compassion as she held and read to a young child so her father could spend the last few minutes of his wife's life with her in her room.

The winners and runners up in all categories will be honored at The Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at The Mirage in Clinton Township. All nominated nurses will receive a certificate of honor.

Those interested in submitting nominations can do so by mail to the Oakland University School of Nursing, Nightingale Nominations, Attention: Cynthia Rutledge, 3057 Human Health Building, Rochester, MI, 48309 or via e-mail to carutled@oakland.edu. Nominations must be received by Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013.