Health Management Associates-Mississippi Division
Funds Hand Washing Project for 2010-11

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation was awarded $25,000 from Health Management Associates (HMA)-Mississippi Division to sponsor a statewide High Five hand washing program for the 2010-11 school year.

Health Management Associates $25,000 sponsorship will allow the MS Nurses Foundation to provide hand washing supplies and materials to elementary schools throughout the state.

The goals of the High Five Hand Washing Program are as follows:

1. Teach hand washing to children in order for them to be healthier and develop a lifelong health habit;

2. Reduce the number of absentees for the school, which increases funding for the school;

3. Collect data that will show a significant reduction of absentees related to communicable illness

The following school nurses will implement the Hand Washing Program in Mississippi Elementary Schools for 2010-2011:

• Jennifer Elliott, RN-Bogue Chitto School, Bogue Chitto, MS
• Cathy Pippin, RN-East Flora Elementary/Jr. High Flora, MS
• Michelle Ellison, RN-Madison Station Elementary, Madison, MS
• Tami Armstrong, RN-Della Davidson Elementary, Oxford, MS
• Cyndee Nash, RN-Redwood Elementary,Vicksburg, MS
• Catherine Jobe, RN-Beachwood Elementary, Vicksburg, MS
• Renee Richardson, RN-Enterprise Attendance Center, Brookhaven, MS
• Susan Sharpe, RN-Harrison County School, Ocean Springs, MS
• Millie Wright, RN-Hayes Cooper Center, Cleveland, MS
• Jennifer Brents, RN-Houlka Attendance Center, Houlka, MS
• Robin Hull, RN-Northeast Elementary, Meridian, MS
• Renee Gurley, RN-Oxford Elementary, Oxford, MS
• Millie Renfroe, RN-Pearl Upper Elementary, Pearl, MS
• Kathy Jones, RN-Ruleville Central Elementary, Ruleville, MS
• Faye Welch, RN-Winona Elementary, Winona, MS
• Jennifer Brents, RN-Houlka Attendance Center, Houlka, MS
• Becky Beasley,RN-New Augusta Elementary, New Augusta, MS
• Rebecca Clarke, RN-Jefferson Middle School, Columbia, MS
• Lynette Kilpatrick, RN, Neshoba Central Elementary, Philadelphia, MS
• Darlene Moore, RN, Issac T. Montgomery Elementary, Mound Bayou

If you would like  information regarding the Hand Washing Project, please call (601) 898-0850.

The 2012 Nightingale Awards Recipents:

Nurse of the Year:
Heather Bowen, North Mississippi Medical Center

Advance Practice Nurse of the Year:
Kristi Herderson, University of Mississippi Health Care

Clincal Practice Nurse of the Year:
Kourtland Adams, University of Mississippi Health Care

Community Servcie of the Year:
Heather Sistrunk, Baptist Health System

Nurse Faculty Member of the Year:
Janet Cooper, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing

Hospital of the Year (less 100 beds):
Madison River Oaks Medical Center

Hospital of the Year (100 beds or more):
University of Mississippi Health Care

Nurse Administrator of the Year:
Linda Wymbs, River Region Health System

Nurse Educator of the Year:
Bobbi Jo Ford, Baptist Health System

Nurse in a Non-Traditional Setting of the Year:
Sue Smith, Stennis Space Center

Nurse Manager of the Year:
Jennifer Stephen, Batson Hospital for Children

Nurse Mentor of the Year:
Patrica Waltman, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing

Nurse Researcher of the Year:
Karen WInters, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing

Nurse Rookie of the Year:
Tierria McGlothin, University of Mississippi Health Care

Nurse Employer of the Year:
Deaconess Home Care

School of Nursing of the Year:
University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing

School of Nursing Administrator of the Year:
Betsy Mann, East Central Community College

2012 Hall of Fame Inductees:

Virginia Lee Cora, Professor Emeritus, University of MS Medical Center School of Nursing
Marcia Rachel, Associate Professor, University of MS Medical Center School of Nursing

A special thank you to all of the 2012 Nightingale Awards Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors:
The Clarion Ledger
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
North Mississippi Medical Center

Gold Sponsors:
George Bell Rug Cleaning

Silver Sponsors:
Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.
Baptist Health Systems
Baptist Medical Center-Leake
Deaconess Home Care
East Central Community College
Gayle Harrell, LLC
Holmes Community College
Hurst Review Services
Madison River Oaks Medical Center
Magnolia Regional Health Center
Mississippi College
Mississippi Nurses Association District 13 (Serving Hinds, Madison and Yazoo Counties) 
Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce
River Region Health System
St. Dominic Hospital
University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation has been awarded two one year grants 2010-2011

The Mississippi State Department of Health-Office of Rural Health

The Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Rural Health awarded a $10,000 grant to the Mississippi Nurses Foundation. The project, “Rural Health Nurse Recruitment” will focus on developing activities to increase the number of health care professionals practicing in rural commuities. The program will include presentations to inform nursing students, hospital nursing staff and high school students about nursing career ladders and education/training incentive programs (loan repayment and scholarships) with a focus on encouraging careers in rural areas. The project will be coordinated by a nurse practitioner or a graduate level nursing student.

The Mississippi State Department of Health-Office of Tobacco Control

Download – Are we emphasizing tobacco use(pdf – 38kb)

The Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control awarded a $99,683 grant to the Mississippi Nurses Foundation to collaborate with Schools of Nursing to survey nursing students on their preception and general belief of tobacco use and tobacco cessation and the need for a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law.

The Foundation will develop activities to educate nursing students enrolled in Mississippi Schools of Nursing about tobacco prevention and control to ensure they are empowered to educate and influence their future patients.

To learn more about the Mississippi Nurses Foundation grants and projects, please call 601.898.0850.