April 11, 2003

Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for MGH Patient Care Services (PCS) and chief nurse (right), recently received the first-ever Prism Award from the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Institute for Patient Care Research and Education. The award was presented to Ives Erickson at the AONE's 2003 annual meeting and exposition.

The Prism Award was created to recognize efforts to promote diversity in the nursing field and enhance understanding of diversity issues through events and activities. AONE president Rita Turley, MS, RN, said Ives Erickson has "provided significant leadership by facilitating and championing successful diversity awareness programs and initiatives."

Ives Erickson was selected for her work in implementing a program to mentor nurses educated in foreign countries by foreign-born nurses, organizing the culturally competent care curriculum at the hospital and establishing several committees focused on diversity, such as the PCS diversity committee.