Nursing Students, Nurses Awarded for Excellence

Nurses make big differences in the lives of those around them every day. They work tirelessly to heal, comfort and care, while taking on roles as mentors, leaders and at some point – students.

The Everyday Hero Award recognizes nurses and nursing students for their contributions and showcases those who go above and beyond for patients and colleagues. Nursing students who are recognized make an extra effort to learn and master the necessary skills to provide excellent care, while showing dedication to quality, safety, and compassion. Nurses who receive the Everyday Hero Award take the time to mentor students, show leadership and have a passion for teaching the next generation of nurses the crucial skills needed to thrive as caregivers.

This award is presented by the Nursing Transition to Practice team, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Department of Education, at the end of each semester to nurses or nursing students at hospitals across LVHN.

LVHN hosted 691 nursing students for clinical rotations in 2021. This experience is crucial to a nurse’s success because it provides an opportunity for students to practice nursing skills in a real-world setting.

“LVHN understands student nurses are the future, and we need to ensure they feel like part of the team,” says Juliana Mitchell, BSN, RN, nursing student engagement liaison. “It’s our job to foster a sense of community and teamwork among student nurses. This starts from the moment a student walks through our doors and continues throughout his or her career.”

Jennifer Pinto, a rising senior at Moravian University, is recognized as an Everyday Hero for her clinical work on 5KS at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest. She is currently a nurse extern on 5KS, where she helps care for people with cancer.

Pinto discovered her passion for nursing during her personal battle with breast cancer. As a 10-year survivor, she hopes her experiences can help others.

“My diagnosis and treatment journey were my inspiration to work as an oncology nurse,” Pinto says. “I have the opportunity to interact with people undergoing treatment for breast cancer, share my story and hopefully inspire them.”

Pinto’s journey not only awakened a desire to care for others, but it also gave her drive and inspiration to thrive in all her endeavors.

“When you go through any illness, it awakens you. It makes you realize you’re not invincible. This realization was my inspiration to seek new opportunities,” she says. “Nothing will keep me from where I want to be.”

As a nursing student, Pinto has come to appreciate the importance of empathy and advocacy in patient care.

“It’s overwhelming to know how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life by simply listening and being an advocate for their care,” Pinto says. “When you give your all for your patients and their care is successful, you feel a real sense of pride for your work and the people around you.”

Pinto is on course to graduate in spring 2023. Her advice to all nursing students: work hard.

“I think it’s important for nursing students to understand what you put into the program is what you’re going to get out of it,” Pinto says. “I had a wonderful experience, and it’s so hard to put into words how much my leaders helped to mentor me.”

 

Bridgeen Tohill, RN, 5KS at LVH–Cedar Crest, was recognized as an Everyday Hero for her mentorship.
 
“I’ve had an innate desire to help people since I was young,” Tohill says. “I also find the science of medicine intriguing, which motivates me to learn new things every day.” 

Tohill believes nursing is unique because it bridges the gap between health care and humanity.

“We use our knowledge of medicine and our empathy to benefit our patients in all aspects of their care – physical, social and psychological,” she says. “It takes hard work and motivation, but nurses are amazing patient advocates because we directly impact a patient’s experience when they are in the hospital.”

Tohill is inspired by nursing because it gives her the ability to help others simply by listening and being a good health care partner.

“The ability to make someone’s life better is so inspiring,” she says. “Nursing will change you as a person for the better.”

Tohill believes mentoring the next generation of nurses is important and the future of health care rests on their shoulders.

“Nurturing the next generation should be a given. Nurses coming into the field can sense our energy. How we treat them matters,” Tohill says. “I think’s it’s important to emulate a positive attitude. This will help create a motivated and educated workforce that will improve the future of health care.”