OGDENSBURG -- Stefany Carville, a nurse at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, is the recipient of the 2018 Nurse Blake Preceptor Award.

This national honor is awarded to nurses, by nurses who nominate them. Carville, who has a bachelor of science degree in nursing, received a recognition certificate and a $500 scholarship to put toward furthering her career. Carville was entered by a new nurse she was instructing, becoming one of the 1,700 entries for the Nurse Blake Award.

“Stefany is truly a credit to our profession,” said Carville’s nominator, Odelia Scher, RN, in her nomination. “She will stop what she is doing to show new nurses how to administer medication, teach appropriate technique, and ensure the safest practice. She will challenge a person or the situation for the safety and well-being of patient and staff. Stefany always supports a positive work environment.” “Stefany is a true nursing gem and she is what a true nursing hero looks like,” Scher said.

Carville, who has been employed at Claxton-Hepburn as a nurse since 2000, is working toward a part time career in flight nursing by participating as an observer on medical flights. She is also an ambassador for organ donation and Claxton-Hepburn’s Organ Donation Coordinator.

Carville’s nursing service at Claxton-Hepburn includes working in the intensive care unit, the nursing float pool, nursing supervisor, and sleep lab manager. She has previously worked as an EMT and firefighter. She has lived in Morristown since 1984.

“I couldn’t believe they picked me out of 1,700 entries,” Carville said. “I was competing against the best nurses in the country.”

“I am humbled and honored because this award validates me as a great nurse,” Carville said.

“The Nurse Blake Award encourages nurses to support each other,” she said. “When I was a new nurse, several intensive care nurses took time to help me develop and grow into the nurse I always wanted to be. They treated me with respect, and I always remember how I was treated, and try to carry that onto new nurses that I work with.”

Nurse Blake is a registered nurse and received his BSN from the University of Central Florida. He has worked in healthcare all during his career and has managed several prevention programs. Blake advocates for nurses and patients and encourages a healthy work environment. He is a social influencer, writer, public speaker, and has been a paid contributor to publications including the New York Times.

He created the Nurse Blake award to encourage nurses to support each other.