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Gloucester County Man Named Cooper Nurse of the Year
Left: Keith Kline, RN, BSN – Staff Nurse – Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit & Right: Stacey Staman, RN, MSN, CCRN – Trauma Program Coordinator – Nominator
Nineteen Nurses Honored During 2015 Nursing Excellence Awards
CAMDEN, N.J.— Gloucester County resident Keith Kline, RN, BSN, was named Nurse of the Year tonight during the 2015 Nursing Excellence Awards hosted by The Cooper Foundation and Cooper University Health Care.
Kline, who lives in Clayton, N.J., has worked as a staff nurse on the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Cooper University Hospital since 2006. He received the Cooper Nurse of the Year Award and the Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing.
Prior to becoming a nurse, Kline was an art director, designing logos for toy companies such as Marvel, Crayola, K’nex and Matchbox. However, after the attacks on 9/11, Keith wanted to do something more to help and contribute to the community and became a trauma nurse.
“Marvel may have superheroes like Spider Man and Captain America, but Cooper has Keith Kline,” said Stephanie Conners, Chief Hospital Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, Cooper University Health Care. “Keith is a role model and mentor for his peers and is constantly growing as a professional. He goes above and beyond for patients and their families.”
The 2015 Nursing Excellence Awards honored 19 nurses for their outstanding contributions to excellence in patient care. Award winners were nominated by their colleagues for their commitment to upholding the Cooper mission “to serve, to heal, to educate.”
More than 175 guests attended the awards dinner, which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill.
“The 2015 Nursing Excellence Awards are made possible through the generosity of many Cooper supporters and friends to benefit ongoing education and training,” said Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO, The Cooper Foundation. “We are grateful to our donors for helping us recognize the outstanding contributions of our nurses, whose extraordinary care makes a difference each and every day.”
The Nursing Excellence Awards recognize exceptional professional nurses and advanced practice nurses, in the ambulatory care and inpatient setting at any Cooper University Health Care location, as well as members of the collaborative care teams that support nursing.
“Our nurses at Cooper University Health Care are by far the best in the region,” said Adrienne Kirby, President and CEO, Cooper University Health Care. “They collaborate, they work hard and they do everything they can to provide the best care experience for patients and their families.”
A complete list of the 2014 Nursing Excellence Awards winners follows.
- Agnes Asamoah, RN, OCN, Staff Nurse, N/S9 Kelemen –Williamstown – Shaina Horton Memorial Award for Excellence in Service
- Julie Carl, MSN, APN, Advanced Practice Nurse, Cardiothoracic Surgery – Sicklerville – Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Jill E. Dyar, RN, BSN, Staff Nurse, Surgical Care Unit – Mantua– Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing
- Edward M. Fenn, RN, BSN, Staff Nurse, N/S9 Kelemen – Palmyra – Rose Smith and Susan Zamitis Memorial Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing
- Valerie D. Gibson, BSN, RNC-NIC, Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit —Swedesboro – John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Excellence in Neonatal Nursing
- Jennifer L. Glendening, MSN, CMSRN, RN- BC, CPHQ, Manager, Clinical Effectiveness, Performance Improvement Department – Sicklerville – Women’s Board of Cooper University Health Care Allied Health Professional Excellence Award
- Jaclyn D. Hayden, RN, BSN, Staff Nurse, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – Cherry Hill – Dr. Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing
- Pamela S. Iannello, CNA, Nurse Associate/ Unit Secretary, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – Somerdale – Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Service (non- nursing)
- Keith Kline, RN, BSN, Staff Nurse, Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit – Clayton – Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing, Nurse of the Year
- Valerie L. Knighton, LPN, Manager, Clinical Care, Ambulatory Operations – Sewell – Women’s Board of Cooper University Health Care Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Nursing
- Sharon McLean, RN, BSN, CPHQ, Performance Improvement Department Outcomes Manager II – Pennsauken – Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Mentorship
- Laura A. Profico, RN, BSN, CEC, Staff Nurse, Labor and Delivery – Glassboro – Charlotte Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing
- Nancy J. Sensor, RN, AD, Staff Nurse, Labor and Delivery – Oaklyn – Carol G. Tracey Compassion Award
- Christina Y. Smith, MSN, RN, CPN, NEA-BC, Clinical Director, Mother Infant Unit –Mullica Hill – Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Nurse Leadership
- Tara Marie Smith, MD, Head, Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Medical Director of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – Woodbury – Nursing- Physician Partnership Award
- Angela R. Spinelli, RN, BSN, CAPA, Staff Nurse, Voorhees Surgical Center – Mantua – Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Research
- Megan A. Sweeney, BSN, RN-BC, Staff Nurse, Pavilion 8 – Gloucester City – Selma and Martin Hirsch Award for Excellence in Medical/ Surgical Nursing
- Adam C. Thaler, RN, Staff Nurse, Pavilion 9 – Sicklerville – Cooper Heart Institute and The Heart House Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing
- Jenieve Thompson, RN, BSN, CCRN, Staff Nurse, Critical Care Intensive Care Unit — Sicklerville – Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing
To view more information about our winners visit https://foundation.cooperhealth.org/nursing-excellence-awards