(West Islip, NY) Melody Butler, BSN, RN, a pediatric nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, was recently honored with the 2013 Mosby’s Superheroes of Nursing Award at the American Nurses Credentialing Center National Magnet® Conference. The organization promotes knowledge and competency in immunizations and positions nurses as vaccine champions among colleagues, patients, and the public.
Butler was nominated in the “Protector” category for her initiatives to raise immunization rates and educate the public about the benefits of protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. She was also nominated by the American Nurses Association for their Immunity Award and has spoken at local schools on the importance of vaccinating and helping to alleviate children’s fears. She resides in Lindenhurst.
Vaccines are truly life-saving, and they represent the best defense against diseases such as measles and pertussis. This year alone, vaccines will prevent 33,000 deaths and 14 million infections. There are many websites—such as www.vaccineinformation.org or www.immunize.org with guidelines for parents on recommended vaccine schedules.
For more information on Good Samaritan pediatric services, please call (631) 376-4444.
Pictured (L-R): Good Samaritan Hospital’s Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Jeanne Dzurenko, RN and Superheroes of Nursing Award recipient Melody Butler, RN.
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 3,775 employees and 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 28,000 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 emergency department visits in 2012. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.
The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.
