A Jefferson Hills registered nurse in Jefferson Regional Medical Center’s Stroke Care Unit has been selected to represent the Medical Center at the 12th annual Cameos of Caring® Awards Gala on Nov. 6 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Brittney D’Alessandro, RN, was selected by her peers for the award sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. She earned her nursing degree at Community College of Allegheny County. As a student, she completed clinical rotations at Jefferson Regional Medical Center and finished her training as a mentor student on the Behavioral Health Unit. She was hired as a graduate nurse on the Stroke Care Unit and recently earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from California University of Pennsylvania. She currently is enrolled in a Master’s degree program at Waynesburg University.

D’Alessandro was instrumental in the development of the stroke care program at Jefferson Regional and in her current position plays an integral role in the care of stroke patients at the Medical Center.

Kim Finnerty, RN, patient care manager of the Stroke Care Unit, said, “Brittney has demonstrated that she can successfully blend today’s nursing expectations with those qualities that made all of us choose nursing.”

Louise Urban, RN, vice president and chief nursing officer, stated that “Brittney is enthusiastic and consistently shows an eagerness to grow personally and professionally. In all aspects of her work, she displays a genuine compassion and caring towards her patients. We are proud to have Brittney represent Jefferson Regional Medical Center as our Cameo of Caring.”

Thirteen other Jefferson Regional registered nurses were nominated for the Cameos award, including Laurie Kautz, 4 North; Jackie Baumiller, 5 East; Bev Kuzak, 3 West; Steve Goodes, 5 South; Kristen Gillon, Emergency Department; Jan McDowell, 3 South West; Lisa Wiesniewski, 4 West; Christine Struniak, Intensive Care Unit; Brad Manown, 5 North; Michael Cook, 3 South West; Cindy Pawelec, Congestive Heart Failure Clinic; Jim Monak, 5 West, and Michelle Jackson, 3 North.

The Cameos of Caring® Award was created in 1999 to honor outstanding nurses for their dedication to quality patient care, increase public awareness of the nursing profession and recruit a new generation of nurses to offset future nursing shortages.