“I function day to day on a simple premise,” said Mervis Smith, RN, a post anesthesia care unit nurse at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM).

“If I take today and live it well, work to the best of my ability, then that day becomes the premise on which tomorrow is built.”

Ms. Smith was recently chosen by her peers to receive the Hospital’s 2009 Nurse of Distinction Award at the annual Nurse of Distinction Award Ceremony.

The celebration honors registered nurses, nurse technicians and unit secretaries who make invaluable contributions to NYM each day.

The annual awards ceremony is part of a series of events held during New York Methodist’s Nursing Appreciation Week.

“I like to think of every nurse in this institution and every ancillary individual as a person of distinction,” said Rebecca Flood, RN, senior vice president for nursing.

The event also honored Brooklyn’s RNs: Adrian Crispino, Carmen Deflorimonte, Caroline Rizzo, Dori Elefterakis, Eunhee Park, Helene Almeyda, Iona Senior, Jane Lamorthe, Karen Watson, Myrtle McBean, Mulayim Mammadova, Natalie Iburg, Petrina Giaimo, Rosabelle Loo, Ruth Matthews-Rowe, Sandra Caze, Shamia Singh, Svetlana Grishchenko, and Monique Reefer.

“In essence, nursing is about kindness, compassion and most importantly listening,” said Stanley Sherbell, MD, executive vice president for medical affairs. “I want to thank you for everything you do for our patients and all the wonderful care that you give.”