Central Nurse Spotlighted During National Nurses Week

Pictured: Kristy, center, with her son Thomas, a CHS senior and daughter, Elizabeth, a NICU nurse at Woman’s Hospital.

    Central's Kristy Simmons, MSN, RN, CNOR was recognized recently with several awards for outstanding work in her nursing profession.  At this year's national convention of AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) in Chicago, she received nationwide awards for both Outstanding Research and Outstanding Volunteer Leadership.  And last week, Kristy was honored as Nurse of the Year by the local AORN chapter.  She was the 2011 Professional Practice Nurse of the Year for the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has published several research papers and other projects.
    Kristy is a surgical nurse at Woman's Hospital, and holds leadership positions in her nursing organizations at the local and national levels. Kristy is a graduate of Central High and Our Lady of the Lake Nursing College, and recently went back to earn her BSN and Masters degrees from Loyola University and Southeastern University.  Kristy volunteered for years in Central's schools and has served as a mentor and example to the next generation of nurses, including forming the Future Nurse Club at Central Middle School.  She also has a noteworthy perspective on breast cancer as a survivor, caregiver, and volunteer.  Nurses run in the family, with two of Kristy's sisters, her daughter & daughter-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends being nurses or students.
    Kristy is a great example of the dedication, professionalism, and compassion embodied in today's nurses, and they all deserve special recognition this week during National Nurses' Week.  Please take some time to acknowledge and thank any nurses you know for answering the call to be there when we need them the most.  Bless you all, and Happy Nurses' Week!