Lakeridge Health Nurse Wins Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award

OSHAWA, ON, Dec. 22 /CNW/ - When you ask patients and colleagues what makes Lakeridge Health's Nurse Practitioner (NP) Michelle Acorn special a common thread quickly emerges 'her dedication to the health and well-being of her patients and her wealth of knowledge'.

In November, Acorn was presented with the NPAO's fifth annual Jerry Gerow Nurse Practitioner Award (Nurse Practitioner of the Year) for her significant contributions to the role of nurse practitioner, the Association and her commitment to the health of seniors at Lakeridge Health's Specialized Assessment of the Frail Elder (SAFE) clinic. "Michelle is the president elect for the NPAO and a role model for all nurse practitioners in Ontario," said Joanne Opsteen, Claudia Mariano and Pamela Pogue members of the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario who nominated Michelle. "She's the 'nurse to know' and has helped many elderly patients improve their health and independence."

"Lakeridge Health, our patients, and other healthcare professionals each benefit from our nurse practitioners in various roles across our hospital network," said Kevin Empey , President and CEO of Lakeridge Health. "Michelle's dedication and commitment to excellence is a model for the contribution that nurse practitioners can have here at Lakeridge Health and across Ontario."

"Being acknowledged by your peers is a great honor and privilege," noted Acorn. "I love the work I do - sharing my knowledge of nursing with others and helping patients and their families regain their strength, independence and health. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a patient who has fallen due to a combination of factors come back into the SAFE clinic walking stronger and looking great and saying 'you've changed my life'. That's the biggest thank you anyone can get."

For more information, please visit www.lakeridgehealth.on.ca

For further information: Leigh Winn-Kruck, Communications, Lakeridge Health, Tel: [phone] ext. 4317, Email: [email protected]; Jane Sanders, Executive Director, Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]