Newtown Nurse Receives

Prestigious Nightingale Award

STAMFORD — Newtown resident Mary Hugo Nielson, a nurse and clinical instructor in Stamford Hospital’s Emergency Department, was honored recently as a recipient of the Sixth Annual Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence.

Ms Hugo Nielson was among six Stamford Hospital nurses who were nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of nursing professionals for making a significant impact on patient care; going “beyond the call of duty”; demonstrating excellence in the field and/or a commitment to the community; or for outstanding lifelong achievement.

“Every day nurses make significant and unique contributions to the health care field,” said Brian G. Grissler, president and CEO of Stamford Hospital. “We are proud that six of our nurses have been honored with this distinction this year. They are all outstanding examples of the nursing profession.”

The Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing program was originally developed by the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut (VNA/SCC) as a collaborative effort to celebrate outstanding nurses and elevate the nursing profession. The goals of the program are to encourage retention, inspire future nurses, focus public attention, and encourage licensed nurses who currently work outside health care to return to practice.

Stamford Hospital is one of the local area program sponsors. Across the state, nearly all of the major hospitals and numerous health care organizations serve as program sponsors.