Stephanie Saffran, BSN, RN, Honored as 2024 UM Shore Regional Health Nurse of the Year

Stephanie Saffran, BSN, RN, clinical nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), has been named SRH's Nurse of the Year. Saffran was chosen by an independent panel of judges from over 70 nominations made by team members. The annual award recognizes nursing excellence achieved through leadership, professionalism, commitment to others and commitment to patient experience.

"I am deeply honored to be selected as Nurse of the Year for Shore Regional Health," said Saffran. "As nurses, we touch the lives of so many patients and their families, whether it's through direct care, listening, educating, or simply being a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on. As I continue my career in nursing, I plan to continue to promote innovative strategies to advance patient care."

"I am incredibly proud and honored to announce our 9 category winners and our overall Nurse of the Year Award," said Ken Kozel, CEO and President of UM SRH. "These exceptional nurses exemplify leadership in action, teamwork, professionalism and compassionate care."

Eight additional nurses received awards in nine categories: Excellence in the Art of Caring, Relationship-Based Care; Excellence in Leadership – Clinical Nurse; Excellence in Leadership-Nurse Manager/Supervisor; Excellence in Nursing Practice/Nursing Inquiry; Excellence in Professionalism; Excellence in Teamwork/Positive Attitude; Excellence as Preceptor/Mentor/Educator – Clinical Nurse; Excellence as Preceptor/Mentor/Educator – Nurse Educator; Ste and Excellence as a Promising Professional. Saffran won the Excellence in Nursing Practice – Nurse Inquiry award and was then chosen from among the following category winners for the title of Nurse of the Year:

• Excellence in the Art of Caring, Relationship-based Care - Juan Vazquez, BSN, RN, JET Team
• Excellence in Leadership-Clinical Nurse - Ashley Higgs, BSN, RN, 2 East
• Excellence in Leadership-Nurse Manager/Supervisor - Brandi Covey, MSN, RN, Ambulatory Surgery Center
• Excellence in Professionalism - Jaimi Hall, MSN, RN, Birthing Center
• Excellence in Teamwork/Positive Attitude - Shannon Phoenix, BSN, RN, 2 East
• Excellence as Preceptor/Mentor/Educator-Clinical Nurse - Sara Andrews, RN, Acute Care Unit, Chestertown
• Excellence as Preceptor/Mentor/Educator-Nurse Educator - Stephanie Blades, BSN, RN, Birthing Center/Women and Children
• Excellence as a Promising Professional - Samantha Lyons, RN, 3 East