Luncheon honors nurses for excellence in patient care

Twenty-four area nurses will be honored at a luncheon on Thursday (7/21) as The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute host the 2005 Cameos of Caring Summer Awardee Luncheon.

The event begins at noon with a welcome from Elizabeth Lenz, dean of the College of Nursing, and Suzanne Martin, nursing executive at The James Cancer Hospital.

The luncheon provides an opportunity for the 24 honorees to be recognized for their excellence in patient care. During the luncheon, each awardee will be interviewed for a video about why they chose the nursing profession. The video will be shown at the Cameos of Caring Awards Gala, a black-tie event to be held October 22 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus.

Media are invited to cover the event and interview the award-winning nurses as well as members of their hospital's administration. Administrators from the University Medical Center, the James Cancer Hospital and the College of Nursing will be at the event.

The Cameos of Caring Awards Gala was created in 1999 at the University of Pittsburgh by Dr. Ellen Rudy, an OSU alum and former dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. This is the second year it has been celebrated at Ohio State.

The purpose of the Gala is to honor exceptional nurses who work with patients at bedside in acute care hospitals, long-term facilities or in ambulatory settings. In addition to honoring nurses, the Gala plays an important role in the recruitment and retention of nurses at a time when they are desperately needed. Proceeds from the Gala go to a scholarship fund for nursing students.

WHAT: The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the James Cancer Hospital will host the 2005 Cameos of Caring Summer Awardee Luncheon to honor 24 outstanding nurses in Central Ohio

WHEN: Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (7/21)

WHERE: Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road.