Five top Wisconsin nurses and an exceptional nurse leader have been recognized for their outstanding service by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing (CON) and Board of Visitors during the annual Nightingale Awards ceremony.
The Nightingale Awards event took place virtually on Thursday, April 15 to honor the 2020 nominees who exemplify the highest standards of nursing practice as well as the nurse leaders who facilitate that care.
Three of the individuals recognized were UW Oshkosh nursing alumni. All Nightingale award recipients received a cash prize and an original commemorative award.
Audrey Rosin
Nursing alumna Audrey Rosin ‘15, of Waupaca, was the sole recipient of the Nurse Leader Award. Rosin is known for her consistency and integrity while serving as a registered nurse clinical manager at ThedaCare Medical Center in Waupaca.
Devoted to lifelong learning and clinical excellence, Rosin leads the system in staff engagement scores and is considered the system expert in emergency preparedness and trauma accreditation. She has the ability to make sense of chaos, encouraging the nursing team to think beyond what they know. She also created the ThedaCare Trauma Nursing Core Course program and nurse mentorship program, and was instrumental in the expansion of the birth center’s outpatient service line. Rosin is constantly living up to her personal mission of “patient care comes first.”
The prestigious Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice, named in honor of Florence Nightingale, recognizes some of Wisconsin’s best nurses for excellence in clinical nursing practice.
Sara Bronson
Sara Bronson ‘84 BSN and ‘14 MSN-CNL, was awarded the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. Bronson, of Kimberly, serves as a nurse practice specialist for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton and has made safety and high-quality medical care her top priority for over 37 years.
Bronson embodies the compassionate spirit and dedication of Florence Nightingale and is considered the “go-to” person for her peers when it comes to problem solving and best patient practices. She goes above and beyond what is expected of her, always making herself available to staff and leadership, day or night, to answer questions or to help navigate high-risk patient situations. Her passion for nursing excellence and her willingness to help anyone at any time has made her an incredible asset to the nursing profession.
Nursing alumna Cindy Kolzow ’93 of Colby, also was awarded the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. A strong leader with a passion for educating, Kolzow serves as a staff and charge nurse at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.
Cindy Kolzow
Always looking for new ways to get information out to the unit in an effort to improve their practices, Kolzow created a successful residency program for new graduate nurses in order to increase patient safety, decrease healthcare costs and improve competency and confidence within new nurses. She is a strong leader who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional patient care and top-notch nursing education.
Other winners of the award were Lori Goff, Adam Johnson and Barb Jones.
Goff serves as trauma program coordinator and a registered nurse at the Ascension Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. Throughout the course of her 36 year career, she has assisted in raising the overall standard of care for trauma patients within the emergency department and inpatient care. Goff also worked hard to regain the hospital’s trauma certification.
Johnson serves as hospital supervisor and registered nurse at the Ascension Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. Frequently seen going from one unit to the other, Adam helps to keep the different departments functioning smoothly with his communication and assistance, ensuring the safety of staff and patients alike. His dedication allows the departments to provide the best care under the best conditions possible.
Jones, registered nurse lead at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, is commonly described as “born to be a nurse” by her peers and patients. Having worked her entire 42 year nursing career in the same organization and department, she possesses a wealth of knowledge and passion for patient care, making her an invaluable resource and an essential team member.
To watch the event, visit uwosh.edu/con/nightingale.
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