Author: McLaren Flint
Vanessa Whipple, RN, a caregiver on the hospital’s cardiac stepdown unit, is the 2024 Margaret McLaren Nursing Excellence Award Winner. McLaren Flint honored Vanessa and 12 other nominees at a May 9 ceremony.
The excellence award is named after Margaret McLaren, RN, who served as Superintendent of McLaren General Hospital and its predecessor, the Women’s Hospital, for 27 years. When McLaren General Hospital opened in October 1951, the facility was named in her honor, making it the first hospital in the country to be named after a nurse.
A special committee selects Margaret McLaren Nursing Excellence Award winners from nomination forms submitted by the nominees’ peers, and the annual celebration is held each year during national Nurses Week.
“I enjoy helping patients and seeing them get better," said Vanessa. "This is such a blessing, knowing it comes from my peers is truly an amazing honor.”
Vanessa is described by her peers as an RN who goes above and beyond for her patients, is compassionate, and provides the care and respect patients deserve. As a co-worker Vanessa is a person everyone goes to with questions, is someone who is always willing to offer assistance, is always smiling, and has the knowledge to handle difficult situations.
Other 2024 nominees include Tracy Ross, RN, ER; Elaine Dallas, RN, Ashley Freel, RN and Holly Ruhl, RN, from the Cardiac Care Unit; Jennifer Luna, RN and Holly Watters, RN, from the Intensive Care Unit; Amber Alex, RN, Brandy Forgie, RN, and Felicia Jernigan, RN, from the Surgical Care Unit; and Nicole Bergquist, RN, Gail Blades, RN, and Sarah Seymour, RN from the Oncology Care Unit.