Elizabeth and Mary Scheda, mother and daughter from Brockport, were honored among the most outstanding of their peers as “Nurse of the Year” during the 4th annual March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards Gala at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
The sold-out event honored nurses from Buffalo to Albany, and raised over $75,000 for the March of Dimes, which for more than 75 years has worked to improve the health of mothers and babies.
Elizabeth (mom), won in the Medical/Surgical category. She has been practicing for 33 years, many of those at Rochester General Hospital. Nominated by her peers, Elizabeth says that she was very flattered to have been nominated, and completely stunned to have won in her category, knowing that there are many hundreds of nurses in the region doing the same work as she. She maintains that for her entire career, her only objective has been to care for her patients as though they are family. Her peers called her “one of the greats.”
Mary (daughter), won in the Rising Star category. She recently passed her one-year anniversary as an RN on an oncology unit at University of Rochester Medical Center. She was nominated by a patient’s family member, having made all of the medical and logistical arrangements necessary for the terminally ill patient to return home long enough to be married. Mary says she has been amazed that even with the short time in her role, she can make such an important difference for her patients and their families. She noted that her personal experiences with friends and family members succumbing to cancer have influenced her deeply, and she credits her mom with showing the way to being a great nurse.
The process to earn “Nurse of the Year” honors begins with a nomination by a co-worker or patient, and proceeds with the nominee submitting a written account of their accomplishments as a nurse. The applications are then reviewed by a March of Dimes committee after the applicants’ and others’ names have been removed, and a single winner is selected in each of several categories.
“The reception and warm wishes we have received since the event have been overwhelmingly gracious and kind,” say mom and daughter, both of whom are alumni of the SUNY Buffalo School of Nursing. “It is truly a blessing to be working as nurses in a community which shows its appreciation so freely.”
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