Andrea Olney, a nurse in the JGH Apheresis Clinic, has received the prestigious Nursing Excellence Award from the Canadian Association of Apheresis Nurses (CAAN).
At a reception in her honour in the hospital on October 17, Ms. Olney accepted the award from her supervisor, Jessica Pinto, Head Nurse of the JGH Apheresis Clinic and Unit Chief of the Medical Day Hospital.
Apheresis is the process of removing blood from the body and passing it through a device that extracts a particular component and then returns the remainder of the blood to the body. This is done to obtain specific constituents of the blood that are essential in treating many serious medical conditions.
“What an honour to be recognized by your colleagues!” Ms. Olney said at the reception. “I graciously and humbly accept this award and I thank the CAAN and my JGH family for their support!”
“Ms. Olney has been an essential asset to the clinic’s operations,” says Ms. Pinto. “She plays a critical role in patient education, as well as providing valuable guidance to nurses and doctors. Her contributions are vital in maintaining the high standards of patient care in the clinic.”
The CAAN certificate states that Ms. Olney has earned the award for her “nursing excellence in patient care and clinical practice, demonstrated through a commitment to continued education in apheresis and exceptional collaboration with the allied healthcare team.”
“Andrea is a leader in her field and her reputation precedes her outside the province,” Dr. Bienz says. “She is also a caring and comforting presence to all her patients who are often reeling from the news of a difficult diagnosis.”
“She plays a critical role in patient education, as well as providing valuable guidance to nurses and doctors,” Dr. Kaedbey adds. “Her contributions are vital in maintaining the high standards of patient care in the clinic. She is a team player who rises to the challenge and shares her knowledge with those around her.”
Ms. Olney has a been a member of JGH nursing staff since 1996 and began working in the Apheresis Clinic in 1998. She has also received many other awards, as well as being recognized by the JGH Foundation’s Hero Project for her extraordinary commitment to her patients.
Given this length of experience, Ms. Pinto praises her as “a strong patient advocate and a respected leader in her field. Her dedication and expertise have earned her the respect of peers and patients alike.”