Most Valuable Professionals

Mary Ann David

Mary Ann David, BSN, CGRN, a staff nurse at the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake, Va., is a talented and witty RN who exhibits extraordinary professionalism and demure, said Kimberly Cooper, RN, BS, CGRN, unit director of CRMC’s endoscopy unit.
“She has worked in endoscopy since the late 80s and is very focused on standards, policies and doing the right thing which exemplifies the professional nurse’s role,” said Cooper. “Mary Ann has been involved in the development of policies, forms, and assisted in initiating and training in new procedures within the department.”
As a preceptor, David spends many hours explaining the techniques of endoscopy. “She is a true expert at understanding protocol, knowing the limitations of the equipment and creating ...desired therapeutic results,” Cooper said.
David is known for putting patient care above all else. She will not rush a scope that needs immediate turnaround and is meticulous in each detail and step needed to reprocess a scope.
She works seamlessly with physicians, and her team members said she accepts the challenges of advanced techniques cheefully.
“And all this, despite being my favorite target of inadvertent (I promise) squirts from the biopsy channel cover!” exclaimed Patricia Raymond, MD, FACP, FACG.
David has been working at Chesapeake Regional since 2004, and previously worked there from 1991 to 2000 as well.
Besides being curious and eager to learn, David is absolutely unflappable in an emergency. “There is no better endo nurse to have watching your back!” Raymond said.

Carmen Luther

Carmen Luther, GI tech/CNA, goes above and beyond at any given time, no matter the circumstances, according to her colleagues.
A GI technician at CGH Medical Center’s Digestive Disease Center in Sterling, Ill., she is extremely knowledgeable of all areas of testing and is also a source of information about all the equipment that is used. But she’s not just an endoscopy encyclopedia. She also has the heart and attitude that make her an extremely well rounded, valuable employee. She combines all such skills during staff training sessions for new associates.
“Not only do all patients love her, but so do her co-workers,” said Mendy Hussung, RN, who nominated Luther. “She is respected by many.”

Teresa Caprio Moore

Teresa Caprio Moore, RN, ADN, CNOR, clinical leader at the Atlantic Endoscopy Center, has been innovative in coordinating the almost impossible move from a hospital-based unit to a freestanding center, while initiating computerized charting, said Wendi McDonough, RN, CPAN, a staff nurse at Atlantic Endoscopy.
“Her great attention to detail made the transition very smooth for physicians, staff, and patients,” McDonough said.
Moore has been essential to the endoscopy unit in the last year as it has moved from a hospital-based OR unit, to the Atlantic Endoscopy Center, located off-site.
Not only did she set up the new unit, she was also instrumental in purchasing equipment and organizing the center’s small-bowel endoscopy service.
Outside of Atlantic Endoscopy, Moore serves as a Relay for Life team member and motivates others in the department to give back to the community.
She also promotes advancement in the profession by being supportive of the class schedule of fellow employees.
“She listens to everyone and encourages all to contribute, no matter how small or strange the contribution may be,” McDonough said.

Jacquelyn Napier

Jacquelyn Napier, RN, RNIII/CNL, CGRN, BSN, a charge nurse in the endoscopy unit of the Medical University of South Carolina Ashley River Tower Digestive Disease Center, is an outstanding GI nurse who is a true leader and mentor, according to Phyllis Malpas, MA, RN, CGRN, nurse manager at the facility.
Napier’s endoscopy unit sees more than 9,000 patients and performs 11,000 endoscopic exams annually. She leads a group of five charge nurses and coordinates daily operations for an overall group of 50-plus staff members.
Napier provides a sense of calm competency, excellent nursing judgment and the ability to delegate and operate appropriately to the benefit of the physicians, families and organization, said Malpas.
Napier’s compassionate commitment to everyone with whom she comes in contact is evident in her everyday work ethic. “She is a superb mentor and role model who arrives to work early and never leaves until staffing is sufficient and everything is covered,” Malpas said.
The RNs Napier works with said this: “Our charge nurse is exceptional. She is compassionate, skilled and tireless in her efforts to make our department the best there is in the hospital. Her efficiency and positive attitude keep our staff motivated and productive.”

Katie Onisko

Diane Walker, RN, BSN, nominated Katie Onisko, RN, CGRN, assistant director of endoscopy and lab manager at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., because, as she puts it, “Katie is the epitome of a GI nurse.”
Onisko has been in gastroenterology for 11 years, and certified for seven years. She came to Rapid City Regional from Colorado, “when we needed to have some direction and someone who knew something about gastroenterology,” Walker said.
“What she does for us every day is promoting excellence in our practice and makes us feel like we can really do things different and makes us strive to be everything we can be in the GI world,” Walker added.
Onisko championed the hospital’s move to join SGNA and has provided her staff with education that was not previously accessible.
She also made it possible for the staff to be reimbursed for certification.
Onisko mentors them by giving encouragement and sharing information. She was president of the Rocky Mountain SGNA and worked diligently to bring to South Dakota an SGNA chapter of its own. This goal came to fruition on Feb. 24.
Onisko arranges community education during Colon Cancer Awareness Month, sponsoring speaker discussions, going on TV to promote the month, and by asking everyone who visits if they’ve had their colonoscopy yet.
“She truly lives GI,” said Walker. “Katie exemplifies just what being prideful about your profession is all about.”