Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Nurse Named March of Dimes's 'Nurse of the Year'

The March of Dimes New Jersey chapter announced Thursday, Dec. 16 that Westfield resident Varsha Singh from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway received the 2015 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award in the Advanced Practice category.

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, these nurses have played a critical role in improving the health of New Jersey’s mothers and babies. The Nurse of the Year awards celebrate the nursing profession and create awareness of recent strides made in this growing field.

Varsha Singh RN, MSN, APN-C is the Adult Clinic Manager, Employee Health at Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) University Hospital. She achieved the GWTG Gold Plus award through quality improvement in stroke core measures. She advocated and kick-started teleneurology, which has enabled the hospital to provide neurology consult in a timely manner and provide acute stroke care expected in a primary stroke center since 2009. Singh improved the workers compensation program through change in policies and teamwork, reduced cost and improved employee safety. As a primary provider taking care of more than 300 indigent patients and providing primary as well as preventative care since 2009, She founded grants for indigents as a primary provider, taking care of more than 200 indigent patients, who received free eye exams, surgeries, free consultations with specialists and were able to prevent their readmission and return to emergency room visits. She also assisted diabetics to manage their chronic condition through constant follow up, referrals to diabetic education and monitoring through diagnostics. She is currently administering a grant-funded, cancer-screening program thorough NJ CEED.

“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 Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Pines Manor in Edison, which had a record attendance of more than 500 people. A total of 115 finalists were in attendance, representing 48 hospitals and healthcare facilities. The event raised more than $90,000 to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.