2021 Inaugural APP Excellence Awards
APP Leadership Award
This award recognizes an Advanced Practice Provider who demonstrates exceptional leadership ability.
- Displays innovative and transformational leadership by promoting well-being, resiliency, diversity, and inclusion amongst teams and/or organization
- Promotes and role models professional practice with professional development, research, presentation, publications, advocacy
- Ability to execute strategic planning for initiatives
- Mentors colleagues on their leadership journey
- Serves as a Committee or Board Member in the organization
Awardee Kimberly Brazee MSN, ACNP-BC
Kim began her NP career at UH in 1999 at CMC. In 2017 she was named APP Manager at UH Ahuja. Elevating those around her and our APP practice, Kim embodies leadership with her commitment and dedication to her role and UH at large.
APP Clinical Excellence Award
This award recognizes an advanced practice provider who excels at patient/ family-centered care and contributes to practice through exemplary clinical care, collaboration, evidence-based practice or involvement in clinical research.
- Exceeds responsibilities in the care of patients and families
- Provides patient/ family-centered care through effective culturally sensitive communication and excellent patient/family teaching
- Supports peers and staff through positive communication, clear feedback and recognition utilizing excellent communication skills
- Champions perspectives of patients and families and fosters culturally sensitive patient/ family-centered care
- Contributes to outcomes of the department/practice area through involvement in a committee, project or research
Awardee Rachel Vanek MSN, ACNP-BC
Rachel was the first adult NP at UH. She has served UH and her patients in the MICU since 1993. Known for her intelligence and vast clinical experience, APPs, residents, fellows and junior staff all look to Rachel for clinical guidance. Having Rachel as a preceptor is like winning the lottery for student APPs.
APP Educator Award
This award recognizes an Advanced Practice Provider who exemplifies excellence in education. This award should recognize an individual who excels at mentoring and precepting to achieve outstanding development of new and experienced staff. Candidate is viewed as a role model who encourages, motivates and educates patients, families and co-workers.
- Participates in the teaching of patients, families and peers to improve care
- Demonstrates commitment and enthusiasm for teaching
- Teaches with inspiration to improve patient outcomes
- Be actively involved in hospital and unit/practice area education projects
- Promotes a family-centered care approach in teaching
- Create a learning environment that encourages, inspires and teaches
- Adapts teaching methods and styles to the strengths and needs of learners
- Provides timely and clear feedback to improve clinical practice
- Models and coaches communication skills that enhance learner ability to advocate for excellent patient care
- Educates utilizing evidence-based guidelines, research and UH resources including standards of care, policies, procedures and pathways
- Participates in ongoing development of teaching skills through peer education and involvement with UH professional development activities and/or with national/regional conferences
Awardee Jennifer Abron MSN, CNP
Jennifer’s clinical role offers many opportunities to marry her passion for education and clinical care. Joining UH in 2016 as a hospitalist at UH Parma, her clinical experience and emphasis on patient education make her stand out.
APP Innovator Award
This award recognizes an Advanced Practice Provider who acts as a change agent to drive processes, policies, and leverages technology to improve care.
- Contributes to the development of new knowledge either by research, EBP, QI or innovation
- Use new knowledge to improve clinical practice and/or patient experience through staff education or patient care conferences
- Advances clinical knowledge through active participation in evidence-based practice, nursing research, local or national conference presentations, professional organizations and/or publications
- Provides innovative care that improves the patient's quality of life
- Inspires colleagues through innovative and creative practice that improves patient outcomes
- Promotes innovative, creative changes in patient care through active participation in practice area-based projects to improve outcomes
- Participates in the culture of inquiry by questioning current practice for patients and families seeking evidence to improve practices
- Contributes to policy, procedure, pathway, or guideline innovation and/or review
- Demonstrates collaboration, innovation and financial stewardship in the generation of solutions for the unit, department or organization that build or enhance interdisciplinary relationships
Awardee Janet Kloos MSN, PhD, CNS
Often, experience in a job perpetuates stagnation. Jan, on the other hand, has only gained momentum. Recognized nationally as a thought leader and researcher, Jan’s development of our Post ICU Recovery Clinic was the most recent innovation her hard work has brought to fruition. No one leaves a meeting with Jan feeling uninspired.