Members of the Rose of Care committee, Southwest Florida’s premiere nurse recognition program, are calling for nominations for local nurses who have exhibited excellence in their field.
Nominations are being accepted until July 15, at which time the Rose of Care selections committee will choose the 2009 winner.
Forms to nominate nurses can be obtained at any hospital in Lee County, certain physician offices or by contacting Rose of Care.
“This is the only kind of event that honors nurses,” said Natalie Fulton, chairwoman of the Rose of Care award committee. “It’s based on the Golden Apple award.”
Diane Spears, a nurse at Lee Memorial Hospital, won the 2008 Rose of Care award.
Sponsored by the Lee County Chapter of Hadassah, the award is being handed out for the second time.
Nurses who receive a nomination complete and submit an application about themselves. The selection committee, consisting of members of the community and health officials, then review each application.
Rose of Care winners earn a missionary trip to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel.
The center was opened in 1961 by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. In 2005, it was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its equal treatment of patients regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.
“It is one of the foremost hospitals in the world,” said Fulton. “It is really quite prestigious and is an exciting thing. We want to make sure the community is fully aware.”
Winners will be announced at award ceremony Oct. 15 at The Landings Country Club in Fort Myers.
To request a nomination, contact the Rose of Care award at 489-2091 or e-mail roseofcare@comcast.net.