LAS VEGAS -- Twenty-two of southern Nevada’s best nurses were honored by their peers at the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year awards celebration Nov. 17. The nurses also selected an outstanding support staff member and an outstanding administrator.

Luzviminda Banaria was a selected the Distinguished Nurse of the Year. Nita Matthew was honored for her staff role and Mark Howard was named top administrator.

Banaria has more than 40 years of nursing experience and is known by colleagues as “Nurse Extraordinaire,” “A+ Nurse” and “Pillar of the Operating Room.”

One of  her nominators wrote: “Minda is as close to perfection as one can get – one notch short of sainthood.”

“She has repeatedly distinguished herself in the Las Vegas community through her tireless efforts at University Medical Center with regard to excellent patient care as well as educating those who through the OR as part of their training,” wrote nominator John Menzes, head of craniofacial surgery at University Medical Center.

“What particularly distinguishes her though, are what she has achieved by establishing an annual surgical mission to the Philippines. What began as a dream during her teenage years has come to fruition over the last decade. Through her positive attitude and warm personality, she is able to recruit experts and staff from diverse fields to create a state-of-the-art operating room in what is otherwise a third-world venue.

“Local plastic surgeons, general surgeons, gynecologists, anesthesiologists, OR and recovery room nurses have all volunteered their talents after being inspired by Minda to participate. Over the last seven years, people have received 613 major procedures, 1,810 minor procedures and thousands of consultations.”

Matthew is a human resources generalist at Valley Hospital. A nominator wrote: Nita has helped out hospital to employ many highly qualified nurses.

“She supports nursing professionally and personally. She goes out of her way to help new nurses from out of town to settle in and feel comfortable in Las Vegas. When one of the new nurses became ill and died, she organized fundraisers and was there personally to help and support the family.”

Howard is the chief executive officer at MountainView Hospital. A nominator wrote that he frequently visits during the week and on weekends to all floors of the hospital.

“He thanks us for being such good nurses and said MountainView Hospital would be nothing without such a good staff. He takes no credit for the successes of the hospital. He knows everyone’s names and if any one is sick in the hospital, he will visit them.

“I have worked in many hospitals and I have never known the name of the CEO, and here this man takes time out of his busy life to give the nurse’s moral support and thank them for their work.”

More than 400 nurses were nominated by their peers recognizing their contributions to patient care in southern Nevada.

“Many of us would be hard-pressed to find someone in our lives who has not been touched by the care a nurse provides,” said Denise Croghan, chair of the Nurse of the Year committee. “Whether caring for our ailing grandparents or tending to the fragile newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit, nurses continually and selflessly demonstrate what is best about the medical profession.

“The Nurse of the Year awards is more than a mere reflection of the past year’s achievements,” Croghan said. “It also is an acknowledgement of what nurses mean today and tomorrow.”

“Nevada, like the rest of the country, has found itself in dire need of nurses, and our hope is that occasions like this will heighten awareness about this shortfall and enlighten the public about the work nurses do everyday to make all our lives a little easier to bear,” said Amy Henley, co-chair of the committee.

The nursing profession is similar to the mission that the March of Dimes pursues every day; that is, to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality, said Dale Andreason, state director of March of Dimes, Nevada Chapter.

“Just as nurses work to improve our lives and those of our family and friends, the March of Dimes works tirelessly to fund research, to increase awareness and to educate the public about the tragic and growing problem of premature birth,” Andreason said. “I’m glad that in a small way we can gather this evening to let our nurses know that we appreciate all they do.”

2007 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year award winners

Category / Winner / Affiliation
Distinguished Nurse of the Year, Luzviminda Banaria, University Medical Center
Advanced Practice, Charlotte Cooper, Sunrise Hospital
Ambulatory Nursing and Community, Natalie Galvan, University Medical Center
Behavioral Health, Zenaida Rumol, Sunrise Hospital
Charge Nurse General Medical and Surgical, Teresa Homam, Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center
Charge Nurse Specialty, Dana Briggs, Valley Hospital Medical Center
Critical Care, Nenita Rattanopas, University Medical Center
Education, Gail Rattigan, Nevada State College
Emergency, Patricia Hofus, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center
General Medical/Surgical, Sherry Shore, MountainView Hospital
Home Health/Oncology Nursing, Florence Weber-Javers, self-employed
Hospice Nursing, Cielito Tapaya, Nathan Adelson Hospice
Infection Control and Occupational Health, Dorothy Shepherd, North Vista Hospital
Managed Care and Case Management, Sue Young, St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Siena
Nursing Administration, Margaret Covelli, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center
Nursing Management, Kathi Murphy, Sunrise Hospital
Pediatric Critical Care, Sherri Harris, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center
Pediatric Nursing, Jennifer Pfannes, Sunrise Hospital
Perioperative Nursing, Laura Devine, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center
Quality and Risk Management, Janice Austin, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center
Rehabilitation/Long Term, Barbara San Marco, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center
Women’s Health, Michelle Ryan, Sunrise Hospital
Nurses Choice-Staff, Nita Matthew, Valley Hospital
Nurses Choice-Administrator, Mark Howard, MountainView Hospital