Medical City is proud to announce that four of the hospital's nurses were named to the "Great 100 Nurses" for Dallas/Fort Worth this year by the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas Nurses' Association Districts 3 and 4 and the North Texas Organization of Nurse Executives.  Ginger Whitacre, RN; Joy Yglecias, RN, BSN, CCRN; Liz Wheeler, RN, BSN and Shari Mirzaei, RN, BSN were selected out of 800 nominees for the award.

The "Great 100 Nurses" is an annual award and celebration that honors 100 of the area's best nurses for the year.  Physicians, patients, nurses, administrators and staff all nominate nurses from their facility for the award.  Each nomination covers five areas of nursing: role model, leadership qualities, service to the community, compassionate caregiver, and significant contributions.  The celebration is an opportunity for area nurses to come together and celebrate the heroism that takes place every day at medical facilities across the community.

"It is a tremendous honor for our nurses to be selected for this award," said Cole Edmonson, RN, MS, FACHE, NEA-BC, vice president and chief nursing executive.  "The Great 100 Nurses selection process allows the nursing community to pause and recognize those who go above and beyond to ensure that patients get the best care possible, and our four honorees do that every single day."

Now in its 19th year, the awards have become an important part of the nursing culture in the area.  Rookie nurses look to the award as a goal for their careers, and veteran nurses see it as an opportunity to give, and sometimes even receive, a pat on the back from others in their field.

"To make a difference in someone's life is a gift," said award recipient Ginger Whitacre, RN, day surgery staff nurse.  "Many ask us: 'how can you do it?'  We as nurses answer, 'how can we not?'  Do I consider myself special?  No.  But I'm grateful to be part of a profession that allows one to give from the heart."