Cincinnati (April 17, 2015) – The Christ Hospital Health Network is proud to announce two of its nurses have been awarded the 2015 Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing. Ashley Lautar, MSN, HNB-BC, NP-C, a nurse practitioner on the The Christ Hospital’s Acute Care for the Elderly Unit, and Vicki Riddle, RN, BSN, NE-BC, clinical manager of The Christ Hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit and IV Therapy, were selected as winners of the 23rd Annual Nightingale Award from hundreds of nominations across the region.
“It is unprecedented to have two Nightingale Award winners from the same organization in the same year,” said Chief Operating Officer Debbie Hayes, RN, MS, MSN, NEA-BC. “This is a tremendous honor for Ashley, Vicki and The Christ Hospital Health Network,”
Ashley Lautar has served as a role model for excellence in nursing and patient care on The Christ Hospital’s Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit since 2014. She has been with The Christ Hospital since 2007.
“Ashley has been transforming care on the ACE Unit by working collaboratively with our team of expert clinicians to develop innovative programs that are resulting in better outcomes for our patients by reducing hospital lengths of stay, reducing 30 day readmissions and improving the collaboration between providers, patients and their families,” said Hayes.
As the nurse practitioner on the ACE Unit, Lautar is responsible for working collaboratively with the physicians and the interdisciplinary team to manage patient’s clinical care and oversee the complex discharge planning needs. She was nominated for the Nightingale Award by ACE Unit Medical Director Jeffrey D. Schlaudecker, MD.
“Ashley is a leader on our unit in her ceaseless advocacy for hospitalized older adults, and she has made countless significant contributions to improving the nursing care for individuals, families, and communities,” said Dr. Schlaudecker.
Vicki Riddle has served as a registered nurse at The Christ Hospital for more than 37 years. Riddle is currently the manager of the Surgical ICU and the IV Therapy department. She is a role model for staff nurses and nursing leaders at all levels of their practice.
“Vicki is truly committed every day to providing the highest quality of care for our patients and their families through her leadership style, personal work ethic, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who work for her practice at the highest level of their licensure,” said Hayes.
Riddle was nominated for the Nightingale Award by her assistant manager, Danielle Collins.
“She creates an environment of trust and support though her own personal accountability and commitment to her staff members, patients, families, and all members of the healthcare team,” said Collins. “She is extremely open and honest in her communication and highly reliable in her follow through. It is actually amazing how organized she is with every single aspect of both departments she manages.”
The Christ Hospital Health Network had 14 other employees nominated for the Nightingale Award.
“We ask our nurses to deliver the finest evidence-based nursing care to every patient, every day,” said Hayes. “With their help, we are continuously evaluating and executing on strategies to transform care."
Lautar and Riddle will accept the Florence Nightingale Award on April 22 at the 23rd Annual Florence Nightingale Awards Banquet.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is a regional care system comprised of The Christ Hospital and more than 100 outpatient/physician locations in the Greater Cincinnati area. Our mission is to improve the health of our community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, affordable care and the finest experiences. Led by the region’s Most Preferred hospital (National Research Corporation), the network is dedicated to transforming care by delivering integrated, individualized healthcare and wellness services through its comprehensive physician network and advanced specialty service. For more than 125 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to all those we serve.