Virginia Pilcher Scholarship Awarded

Michele Petersen, RN, Cardiac Diagnostics, Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, has been selected to receive the 2006 Genesis Health Services Foundation Virginia Pilcher Scholarship. 

The Pilcher Scholarship is awarded by the Foundation annually to a current Genesis Medical Center nurse who is pursing a degree in nursing, either baccalaureate or advanced, at an accredited college or university.  The scholarship is funded through an endowment created in 1989 in recognition of the high standard of excellence in nursing established and exemplified by Virginia L. Pilcher, RN.  Pilcher was Vice President and Director of the Department of Nursing for Mercy Hospital, a Genesis Medical Center predecessor organization, during her 43 years of employment. 

Petersen has been a registered professional nurse for 21 years, working in Step-Down Telemetry, Intensive Care, Cardiac Care, Surgical Intensive Care, Open Heart Surgery and Home Health Care.  Petersen has worked in Cardiac Diagnostics for the past 12 years, where she currently holds the position of CNIII Charge Nurse.  She has a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Eastern Michigan University and is pursing a master's degree in nursing administration from St. Ambrose University. 

"The master's program is not only advancing my knowledge and educational status, but is assisting me in state and worldwide involvement in my profession," said Petersen.  "I am networking with leaders, not only in nursing, but in business.  I have already gained a wealth of knowledge that only an advanced education can offer." 

Petersen is involved in numerous hospital and community activities.  She currently serves on the Nursing Practice Council and the Partnership Practice Council, is in her second term as Chair of the Nursing Recruitment and Retention Committee, and is a second-year member of the Patient Tracer Team.  She also has been named a Genesis Medical Center Nurse of the Month, and has been a member of the Education, Quality and Practice Council, the CPR Committee, the Nursing Clinical Guidelines Committee and the Firestarters Physician Satisfaction and Communication Teams. 

Petersen is a Senator for the Graduate Studies Student Council at St. Ambrose, has completed the Parish Nurse Program and participates in Parish Nursing activities, teaches cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in the community and has been a Team Captain for the American Heart Association Heart Walk, the March of Dimes Walk and the Diabetes Walk. 

"Michelle dedicates herself daily to providing compassionate, quality care to cardiac patients and their families," said Charlette Evans, RN, BSN, Manager Cardiac Rehabilitation/Cardiac Diagnostics, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport.  "She is a role model and holds her peers accountable to the same high standards she demonstrates."