Chicago (Jan. 7, 2010) - The following nurses on staff at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center recently received the listed certifications and awards in their fields of specialty.

Certifications

• Ana Bedon, BSN, RN, CWCN, earned the honor of Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) from the The Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
• Angela Bradford, BSN, RN-BC, OCN, received board certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
• Heidi Bradley, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, and Annette Gomez, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, and  received Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
• Mary F. Brion, RN, CMSRN, was named a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) by the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB)
• Kurt Kausch, MS, PhD, RN, OCN, ACRN, was named an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) and the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB)
• Blanca Vargas, RN, OCN, received Oncology Nurse Certification (OCN) from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
• Beverly Wainman, MSN, RNC, PCE, NE-BC and Teri Wallace, MSN, RN, NE-BC, were named Board Certified Nurse Executives (NE-BC) by the Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• Laura J. Weith, BSN, RN, CORLN received Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse Certification (CORLN) from the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Nurses (SOHN)
• Receiving certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) were: Chime Ajiere, BSN, CCRN, RN; Andrea Alperto, BSN, RN, CCRN; Sandra Cabrera, BSN, RN, CCRN; Lisa Knoll, BSN, RN, CCRN; Virginia Maravillas, BSN, RN, TNCC, CCRN; Adam Osborne, BSN, RN, CCRN; Erin Thomas, BSN, RN, CCRN and Marianne Turner, BSN, RN, CCRN
• Receiving Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) were: Trista Bachand, MS, RN, PCCN; Beverly Bohus, MSN, RN, PCCN; Erin Colgrove, BSN, RN, PCCN; Sonya Ferrel, BSN, RN, PCCN; Brian Marquez, BSN, RN, PCCN; Katie Meador BSN, RN, PCCN; Eva Mercado, BSN, RN, PCCN; Jennifer Morema, MS, RN, PCCN; Elisa Puma BSN, RN, PCCN and Joseph Wong, BSN, RN, PCCN
• Named a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) by the Emergency Nurses Association were: Lisa Hofstra, BSN, RN, CEN; John Pucker, MS, JD, RN, CEN and Tim Twohig, BS, RN, CEN

Academic Degrees

• Lee Erickson, MSN, RN-BC, was awarded Master of Science Degree in Nursing from University of Phoenix in March 2009
• Peter Gwizdala, BSN, RN, was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in August 2009
• Stefanie Prena, BSN, MHA, RN, was awarded Master's Degree in Health Administration from University of Phoenix in March 2009
• Diane Shallcross, BSN, RN, was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Illinois-Chicago in August 2009

Awards

• Lori Hedges MS, APRN-BC, AOCNS, ACHPN, received the Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek Nursing Excellence National Nurse of the Year Award in Mentoring for 2009
• Recent DAISY Awards at Illinois Masonic have included:
  •  Rabia Boukalis, BSN, MA, RN-May 2009
  • Emelda Selorio, RNC-June 2009
  • Emily Estrella, BSN, RN, and Lea Wei, BSN, RN-July 2009
  • Erin Christoff, BSN, RN, CMSRN-August 2009
  • Gloria Guir, BSN, RN-September 2009
  • Elizabeth Bahr, BSN, RN-October 2009
  • Kymarie Allen, BSN, RN-November 2009
  • Margaret Allison, BSN, RN-December 2009

Promotions

• Delia Albano, BSN, RNC; Rabia Boukalis, BSN, MA, RN; Erin Christoff, BSN, RN, CMSRN; Keri Dillon, BSN, RN; Katherine Halley, BSN, RN; Anna Krupa, ADN, BS, RN; Timothy Twohig, BS, RN, CEN; and Nicole Zuanich, BSN, RN were recently promoted to Nurse Clinician III.
• Kymarie Allen, BSN, RN; Magic Allen, BSN, RN; Elizabeth Bahr, BSN, RN; Peter Borkowski, BSN, RN; Shan Chen, BSN, RN; Jacqueline Diez, BSN, RN; Laura Fessler, BSN, RN; Megan Foody, MS, RN; Danielle Frankel, BSN, RN; Emily Gariepy, BSN, RN; Leila Hinshaw, BSN, RN; Jodi Johnson, BSN, RN; Lindsey Jones, BSN, RN; Jasmine Kanappilly, MS, RN; Sarah Kirby, BSN, RN; Russell Knott, ADN, RN; Paula Maslankowski, BSN, RN; Debra McIntyer, ADN, RN; Donna Miller, BSN, BA, RN; Emily Nelson, BSN, RN; April Odom, AD, RN; Kelly Poirot, BSN, RN; Laurie Polakoff, MS, RN; Maisa Rouzer, ADN, RN; Marylou Samoy, BSN, RN; Marieluz Solver, BSN, RN; and Seth Teske, ADN, RN were recently promoted to Nurse Clinician II.