Three Duke Nurses Named to the "Great 100" in North Carolina
Duke University Health System
Used with permission

Three nurses in the Duke University Health System -- Ann Quinlan-Colwell, Jon Seskevich and Kathleen Turner -- have been named to the 2005 list of the Great 100 nurses in North Carolina. The Great 100 is a not-for-profit volunteer organization that recognizes nursing excellence among registered nurses in North Carolina. Every year the group honors 100 nurses who exemplify excellence as nurses and commitment to the profession of nursing. This year's nurses were honored at a gala event on Sept. 24 in Greensboro, NC.

Each of the three Duke nurses honored comes from a slightly different area of nursing. Each has their own unique abilities and accomplishments that launched them into the spotlight at the Great 100 Gala.

Ann Quinlan-Colwell is a clinical nurse specialist, Pain Program coordinator at Duke University Hospital, and Advanced Practice Nursing Team Leader for the Stress Management and Palliative Care team. "I have been blessed with having great opportunities," she says. "At Duke, I'm particularly proud of working with the Advanced Practice Nurses, Pain Champions, and physicians to improve the safety of pain management here."

Jon Seskevich also helps patients manage pain. As a nurse clinician at Duke University Hospital and part of the Advanced Practice Nursing Department Stress Management Consult Team, he specializes in stress and pain management education and consultation for patients, families and staff. "I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to integrate mind/body and mind/body/spirit techniques into healthcare here at Duke," he says. "When I started working with stress management at Duke 15 years ago, a lot of the medical folks said, 'well, it can't hurt.' Now almost 50 percent of the consults come from doctors. There is more research and evidence that says that this is important."

For Kathleen Turner, an assistant clinical professor in the Duke University School of Nursing, much of the pride comes from seeing students succeed. "I am always grateful that I can facilitate the transition of wonderful new nurses into this exciting and challenging profession," she says. "It is important to help them to bring the best of themselves and their personalities into the practice of nursing."

Sharing the Pride
Although all three of these nurses have much to be proud of in their own careers, they are quick to mention the many people who have helped them flourish. Seskevich, for example, says that he originally came to Duke "because Bernie Stewart interviewed me and made me feel valued for my knowledge, background and experience. He showed me how I could be part of a team."

Ask Turner who has helped her be successful and she rattles off a seemingly unending string of names, going all the way back to 1982 when she first came to Duke.

For Quinlan-Colwell, it is not only her fellow nurses who give invaluable guidance and support, but many others -- from her father "who taught me life skills which continue to help me each day" to her husband, her friends, and her teachers who "positively contributed to my metamorphosis."

For all three nurses, the gala on Sept. 24 was a special occasion, not just because of the honor it brought to them, but because of the honor it brings to nursing. "It was humbling to listen to the stories of the other 99 great nurses as I waited in line," says Quinlan-Colwell.

"It reminded me of the Friends of Nursing Gala we have each year at Duke," says Seskevich. "It was a chance to honor nursing and people's contributions."

"It was a beautiful event," agrees Turner. "What a wonderful celebration of Nursing!"

For more information on the Great 100, visit www.great 100.org. For more information on nursing within the Duke University Health System, visit www.duke nursing.org.