Stephanie Jenkins, a registered nurse on Floyd Medical Center’s Cardiac Stepdown unit was honored as the 2011 Floyd Nurse of the Year at a ceremony this week.

Nominated for her kind spirit and positive attitude, Jenkins has been a Floyd employee since 2007. Her nominators say she is a true patient advocate and a large contributor to the success of the Cardiac Stepdown unit because of her dedication and commitment to patients, as well as her co-workers.

`Stephanie is the heart of our floor. She is a wonderful nurse and co-worker who exudes beauty and grace. Her kind spirit is experienced by all and we are proud to have her on our team,” says Shannon Cooke, clinical manager of the Cardiac Stepdown unit.

During the snow storm earlier this year, Jenkins assisted her manager with organizing staffing needs and sacrificed personal time to ensure her co-workers and patients were taken care of. “Stephanie is a clinical professional and personal resource to all her peers,” says Cooke.

One of her nominators says, “Stephanie is calm, professional and confident–an exceptional role model.”

Also at the ceremony, Christy Barrow, a registered nurse in the Inpatient Surgery department at Floyd, was honored as 2011 Nurse of the Year runner-up. Administrator and Medical Director of Surgical Services, Dr. Rebekah Lowery, says, “Christy is energetic, steady and calm. She is committed to her co-workers and you don’t have to ask her to help. She has a genuinely loving spirit. The surgeons respect her knowledge and she’s always open to delve into a new task.

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, the birth date of Florence Nightingale, who is credited as the founder of nursing as a modern profession.