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Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to Nursing... Salute to

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WEST MEMORIAL MANOR

Crystal Allwardt, RN, BSN Michele Holly, RN, BSN
For nearly 19 years, Michele Holly has enjoyed working
On a daily basis, Crystal Allwardt cares for mothers and
babies post-partum at Memorial Hospital West. “It’s exact- with the short-term rehabilitation patients at Memorial
ly the hospital and department I dreamed of working in Manor. Nursing, she believes, is her “calling” and these
since I decided to become a nurse. I landed my dream individuals, many of whom are anxious and scared, bene-
job.” fit from the care the staff provides. “They come in so sick
Allwardt joined Memorial Healthcare System nearly six and we’re there for them. We attend to both the physical
years ago, after earning a BSN at Nova Southeastern and mental aspects of treatment and, as their health
University. In addition to the work she does at the bed- improves, we see their true nature return.”
side, Allwardt is also a lactation educator, traveling to Holly, who came to the U.S. from Haiti as a teenager and
pediatrician’s offices to teach staff how to help moms sus- immediately began working at nursing homes, is in charge
tain breastfeeding, ideally for at least six months. That’s of the floor she works on and collaborates with doctors
the time period research shows results in better health and other nurses to solve problems that arise. Often, she’s
outcomes for babies and mothers. able to do that just by talking to patients, many of whom are elderly, and explaining the
Allwardt, like many in the maternity community, believe breast milk provides the reality of their situation.
ideal nutrition for babies taking the first step on a journey to lifelong health. “I’ll do whatever is possible to help, as long as I’m truthful with them and true to
myself,” said Holly.
Margalie Occil-Mathurian, MSN, RNC
Violette Moise, RN, BSN
Perinatal Registered Nurse
The work can be intense and is always busy, but Violette
For more than 15 years, Margalie Occil-Mathurian has Moise always leaves time to sit and visit with those in her
been nursing’s equivalent of the Swiss Army knife, show- care. It’s an approach she believes is very important, espe-
ing her versatility as a charge nurse that cares for patients cially at Memorial Manor, which offers individuals long-
in Labor and Delivery, Newborn Nursery, and Post- term care and short-term rehabilitative services.
Partum units. Her ability and willingness to float between “I focus on their needs, listen to their stories, and give
numerous assignments help ensure that every patient comfort,” said Moise, who will celebrate 20 years in her cur-
receives the highest quality care. rent position in December. “The residents in particular look
Occil-Mathurian’s skills and abilities have also made a forward to the visits and say the friendship we share makes
difference outside Memorial Hospital West, most recently them feel alive and relevant.”
on a mercy mission earlier this year to her family’s home- Moise takes pride in being in charge of the daily work
land of Haiti. She and a team of medical professionals from Memorial Healthcare System flow, minimizing stress on the floor, and handling whatever issues may arise. “I like to
cared for neonates in one of the poorest areas of the country and educated healthcare update my supervisors on the problems we’ve solved, without involving them in the
workers on best practices for high-risk pregnancies and infection control. process of getting it done.” It’s a mindset that has served her, and the Memorial
Called a “shining star” and “leader” in the nursing community by those she works Healthcare System family, well.
with at Memorial Hospital West, Occil-Mathurian is also an active member of the
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. MEMORIAL HOME HEALTH

SOUTH BROWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES Leonela Perez Osoria, RN, BSN

Jamie Dixon, LPN Leonela Perez Osoria has always had a passion for med-
ical knowledge. It was evident in Cuba, where she was
For Jamie Dixon, it was an unfortunate medical situa- trained as a family physician and studied plastic surgery,
tion that propelled her toward the nursing career that has and is apparent in the U.S., where she continues to further
become her life’s work. her education while working within the Memorial
Nearly 15 years ago, Dixon’s grandmother was diag- Healthcare System. The flexibility to pursue advanced
nosed with dementia and the young woman joined her degrees (she recently competed a masters in advanced prac-
family in caring for its matriarch. Professional nurses also tice nursing), work, and maintain an active family life is
attended to the elderly woman during this time, impress- what attracted Perez Osoria to home health nursing. She
ing Dixon with their compassion and inspiring her to also appreciates the connection to peers at Memorial that
enroll in Keiser College’s emergency medical technician’s help her provide care at a high level. “My patients have
program. Licensed as an EMT in 2010, Dixon completed acute and chronic conditions that are highly complex,
Keiser’s LPN program a year later and is currently pursu- allowing me to practice at the top of my license and contribute to multi-disciplinary con-
ing an RN degree at Florida Career College. ferences with other nurses, therapists, home health aides, and physicians.
Dixon joined the South Broward Community Health Services team two years ago as a Memorial is the best healthcare system. I want to be part of this family my entire
care coordinator at its Dania Beach and Pembroke Pines locations. The Paterson, NJ career.”
native recently transitioned to the case manager’s role at the Pines practice.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIRAMAR
Judith George-Elliott, RN
Christine Jones, RN, BSN, MSN
Working with new mothers is what Judith George-
Elliott enjoys most about her role with South Broward
Community Health Services. The native of Trinidad joined The ‘aha’ moment in Christine Jones’ nursing career
Memorial’s labor and delivery team in 2001 and transferred came after she left the profession and following the birth
to the outpatient OB/GYN practice at the primary care of her first child. “I realized I wanted to come back and be
provider a year later. a part of the awesome team that supported me during my
In addition to sharing the anticipation and joy of a new own labor and delivery.”
baby with moms, George-Elliott takes time to educate More than 28 years later, Jones is still giving and receiv-
women about what they should expect from motherhood, ing support. The former happens when she cares for
including lessons learned from her own child, Jurrol, and moms and babies and the latter comes from the staff at
four-year-old grandchild, Jordyn. An RN more than 35 Memorial Hospital Miramar, a team, Jones says, that has
years, the married George-Elliott currently works as a charge nurse/team leader, which each other’s backs. “The people I work with are what keep
enables her to combine managerial and clinical experience. She first started her profes- me here. Everyone is so supportive. I’m part of a family
sional career as a medical assistant at a nursing home before continuing her education at and I never feel alone.”
Miami-Dade College. Moving forward, Jones wants to use technology to improve the practice of nursing.
Memorial Healthcare System has eight SBCHS locations dedicated to providing high- She hopes to utilize her recently acquired master’s degree in Nursing Informatics to ana-
quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care in friendly and culturally-sensitive environ- lyze data and make determinations on what’s working and what needs improvement.
ments.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com May 2018 37