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Bartlett Regional Hospital has plenty of nurses to be thankful for this holiday season, and many of them were highlighted at the March of Dimes' fifth annual Alaska Nurses of the Year Awards gala on Nov. 14 in Anchorage.

Throughout the state, patients, peers and supervisors nominated 85 nurses and 19 professionals for the awards, which included a range of categories. Among the 19 selected Alaska Nurses of the Year was Therese Thibodeau, a staff nurse in Bartlett's Critical Care Unit.

"It is an honor to be recognized by my peers," Thibodeau said. "In order to get the reward, I was nominated by my nurse manager Janice Gray, and to have other nurses whom I admire think I deserve the award is very humbling."

Other Bartlett nominees were registered nurses Nina Rajala and Karen White, nursing administration; Rachel Gladheart, advanced practice; Sara Gress, maternal and newborn; Laura Gregovich, general medical - surgical; C. Rose Lawhorne, emergency and flight; and Lincoln Farabee, Rising Star.

"I work with a wonderful group of nurses," Thibodeau said. "I've known Nina for as long as she has been at Bartlett. She is a nursing supervisor and a great back up in any critical situation. Rose ... is a wonderful nurse and great to work with. Lincoln just graduated from nursing school and works with us in Critical Care. He is bright, enthusiastic and a great asset to our staff."

In addition to being nominated by her co-workers for a Nurse of the Year award, Thibodeau said the most rewarding part of her job is her interactions with patients and their families.

"Explaining what we do, what it means, giving them the support they need to cope with difficult circumstances - that is all very rewarding," she said. "I do enjoy the technical aspects, the new equipment, keeping up on best practice research. There is always something new to learn. I rarely go to work where I'm not learning something I didn't know before. It keeps my mind active and alert."

Thibodeau, who left Juneau for a few years early in her career and came back in 1983, started her 30-year nursing career at Bartlett in 1978.

Although she is based in Critical Care, she frequently floats to other departments, including the Emergency Department, Medical-Surgical Unit and Special Care Nursery. She is a member of the Registered Nurse Clinical Ladder Team, which created a clinical ladder for evaluating and advancing all of the nursing staff at Bartlett.

In addition, Thibodeau is a member of the Precepting Program Development Team and the Patient Education and Policy and Procedure committees. She also teaches classes, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pacemaker Care.

According to Cathy Carter, Bartlett's chief nursing officer, Thibodeau has developed many patient protocols including ventilator care and sepsis protocols.

"A very highly skilled nurse, Therese has all of the qualities you would want in a nurse assigned to care for your family members," Carter said. "She demonstrates excellence and exemplary behaviors in many aspects of her nursing care and nursing career. ... She is knowledgeable and caring. She is a strong advocate for patient safety and comfort. A true professional, her award is well-deserved."

Carter described a few of Bartlett's other nominees.

"Lincoln Farabee and Sara Gress are fairly new to Bartlett, but very welcome additions to our staff," she said. "Energetic, eager for professional development and positive, they bring fresh perspectives to our hospital. We support those dynamic characteristics and are grateful that they chose to begin their careers with us. We hope this is a wonderful beginning to a long association with Bartlett."

According to Carter, Rajala is Bartlett's Lead House Supervisor and is one of the hospital's strongest nursing leaders.

"(Rajala) has recently been involved with other hospital leaders in developing new processes to ensure patient safety," Carter said.

OB manger White is skillful in obstetric nursing, according to Carter.

"She possesses a wonderful combination of nursing and management skills that are essential to our hospital," she said.

Gladheart, experienced in obstetric nursing, is a sensational teacher, according to Carter.

"She works with the Education Department to bring that first-hand knowledge to the community through parenting classes, lactation support and other classes that help parents with preparing for childbirth and early infant and toddler care," Carter said of Gladheart.

"I would award all of (the nominees) if I could," Carter said, "but the best tribute comes from their peers who have recognized their contributions by nominating these very excellent nurses for the March of Dimes award."

• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or neighbors@juneauempire.com.