Nine St. Peter’s Health Partners Nurses Honored for Nursing Excellence

Nine St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) nurses were honored for nursing excellence at the sixth annual Times Union Salute to Nurses on October 14.

Presented by SPHP, the Times Union Salute to Nurses was a virtual celebration this year, honoring the profession of nursing and the outstanding women and men who represent nursing excellence in the Capital Region. This year was especially poignant, as the event was able to honor professionals who have been on the front line over the past seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year, the Times Union recognizes 25 local nurses – 10 winners and 15 finalists – nominated by family, friends, coworkers and others whose lives they’ve impacted with their work. This year, the Times Union received more than 600 nominations, which set a new record in the six years of the program.

Three SPHP nurses were named “2020 Nurse of the Year”:

  • Donna Hervieux, RN | Program Manager, Eddy Daybreak
  • Beth Vondendriesch, RN, BSN | Education and Quality, Community Hospice
  • Carole Wickham, DNS, RN, CNS-BC | Director of Professional Practice & Nursing Research, SPHP Acute Care

Additionally, six SPHP nurses were recognized as 2020 Nurse of the Year finalists:

  • Suzanne Almond, RN | Albany Thoracic & Esophageal Surgery, St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates
  • Richelle Ives-Archard, MSN, MBA, RN, C-AL | Director, The Terrace at The Glen at Hiland Meadows; Assistant Director of The Glen at Hiland Meadows
  • Heather Keller, MSN, C-EFM, RNC-NIC  | Newborn Service Line Supervisor, St. Peter’s Hospital
  • Scott Marra, LPN | Neurology Unit, Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Raylene Minick, RN, OR | Samaritan Hospital
  • Cristina Phillips, RN, BSN | Infection Preventionist, St. Peter’s Hospital
James K. Reed, M.D.

“We have been honored to partner with the Times Union over the past six years to recognize the exceptional nurses of the Capital Region. But this year, more than ever, we recognize our nursing heroes with immense gratitude and pride,” said James K. Reed, MD, president and CEO of St. Peter’s Health Partners. “We are now in our seventh month of battling COVID-19 in the Capital Region. The virus has taught us an enormous amount about our ability as a community to come together in the face of adversity. It has also shined a light on the unrelenting bravery and endless talent of our health care colleagues, particularly our nurses. To all Capital Region nurses, for all they do, every day, the St. Peter’s Health Partners community offers you our thanks.”

Times Union Salute to Nurses honors nurses for their extraordinarily selfless contributions, impact on quality of life for their patients and their passion for the nursing profession. To view this year’s virtual awards ceremony, which included a keynote address from Steven Hanks, MD, chief clinical officer for St. Peter’s Health Partners, click HERE.