RVNA Nurse Honored by State General Assembly for National Award

On Thursday, May 14, 2015, Nurse Erin O’Rourke, resident of Ridgefield, was celebrated by the Connecticut General Assembly for receiving the “Outstanding Clinician of the Year” award from the Visiting Nurse Associations of America in April.  O’Rourke, BSN, RN, is a Nurse Case Manager with Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA).

O’Rourke was invited to the Capitol by State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton).  State Representatives John Frey  and Jan Giegler, RVNA President and CEO Theresa Santoro, the O’Rourke family and friends joined Boucher and the General Assembly in honoring O’Rourke in the Senate Chamber.

“Erin O’Rourke is an angel to the patients she takes care of. She is a professional and gives of herself in every way so that her patient’s quality of life is the best it can be,” said Sen. Boucher. “It was a great privilege to have members of the general assembly honor her.”

Rep. Frey, former member of the RVNA Board of Directors, said that this award is only given to nurses who go well beyond their duties for the benefit of their patients.  “Erin said she didn’t become a nurse for the limelight, but her award is extremely well deserved.  It’s one of the most prestigious visiting nurse awards in the country.”

“The work nurses do can sometimes be difficult and thankless, yet she always goes out of her way to make sure her patients have the absolute best care available,” Rep. Giegler said. “Erin is very deserving of this recognition and I’m proud we were able to recognize her many accomplishments publicly.”

“RVNA is so very proud of Erin O’Rourke’s recognition at the State Capitol. Erin performs vital work and demonstrates excellent clinical skills, empathy, compassion and professionalism in the most humble and caring manner,” remarked Theresa Santoro, President and CEO of RVNA.

O’Rourke has been a home care nurse case manager with RVNA for six years.  She cares for patients in Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and surrounding towns.  Prior to joining RVNA, she was a nurse at Greenwich Hospital for three years.  O’Rourke has a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross and a BS in Nursing from New York University.  She is a certified medical-surgical nurse, and she is currently working towards a certification in diabetes care.  She has won two Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing in Fairfield County, in 2008 and 2010.

                O’Rourke received the Outstanding Clinician of the Year Award at the Visiting Nurse Associations of America’s annual meeting on April 22 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

About RVNA

Founded in 1914, RVNA is a fully-accredited Medicare-certified home health care agency that also supports public health and safety, and promotes the highest quality of life in Connecticut. Services include skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies, social work services, disease management, an aging-in-place program, a travel health specialist, immunization and vaccination clinics, and educational and wellness programs.

To Contact RVNA

Call RVNA at 203-264-3250 or 203-438-5555. Visit RVNA at www.ridgefieldvna.org.

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Submitted by Wilton, CT

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