Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Nurse receives March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award

The March of Dimes New Jersey chapter is pleased to announce that North Brunswick resident Myrna Young from Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) University Hospital in New Brunswick received the 2015 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award in the Nurse Educator category.

Through Nurse of the Year Awards, the March of Dimes recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional patient care, compassion, and service. Whether serving as a health care provider, educator, researcher, or chapter volunteer/advisor, these nurses have played a critical role in improving the health of New Jersey’s mothers and babies. Nurse of the Year Awards celebrate the nursing profession and creates awareness of the recent strides made in this growing field.

Myrna Young, MSN, RN, CNOR, is a Nursing Education Specialist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she has made significant contributions in improving the clinical practice through development and implementation of education programs that raise the standards of practice, provide safe, quality patient care, patient satisfaction, employee safety and employee satisfaction. Some of her successful projects include Violence in the Workplace Education, a hospital wide education program for nearly 5000 employees, and a mentorship program for a group of foreign nurses from St. Luke Hospital. In 2013, she was chosen to be the facilitator of the joint academic and clinical practice RN Residency Program. She serves as the liaison between Rutgers University and the residents to support their clinical and professional development. In June 2014, she spearheaded the Path to Professional Nursing program and received a $250,000 grant to support nursing education for non-nurse employees. Last September, she developed unit based interdisciplinary patient experience committee.

Young serves as a mentor, educator and leader of professional development activities for more than 7,000 employees. She was the lead enterprise Health Stream Educator for both RWJ campuses. Her array of accolades includes national poster and podium presentations in various educational conventions in the U.S. as well as a podium presentation in Canada this summer. She initiated several community outreach initiatives such as a Typhoon Haiyan humane fundraising campaign and an Ebola eradication effort to benefit Africa. Outstanding accomplishments of hers include the 2015 Gem Award for Education and Mentorship, the 2015 Transformational Leadership Awards, and the 2014 People’s Ball Empowerment.

“We could not do the work of the March of Dimes without the passion and commitment of our nurses. This is our opportunity to show them how special they truly are,” said Allie Hall, Central Division Executive Director, New Jersey Chapter of the March of Dimes.

More than 196 nurses were nominated in 19 different award categories. New Jersey award recipients were announced at a special awards gala held on November 18, 2015 at Pines Manor in Edison, which had a record attendance of over 500 people. At the event there were 115 finalists which represented 48 hospitals and healthcare facilities. The event raised over $90,000 to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.