Two S.F. nurses get recognized for work

By Ana Maria Trujillo | The New Mexican

11/6/2009

Two Santa Fe nurses were recently awarded 2009 New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards. Trudy Perry, the Region 2 school health advocate of the New Mexico Department of Health received the New Mexico Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award presented by the Bank of Albuquerque. Paula Lewis Devitt, the director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center received the Excellence in Ambulatory Care Award presented by United Blood Services.

Perry could not be reached for comment, but according to a news release from New Mexico Nursing Excellence, she became a nurse 23 years ago and has served in her current position since 1999. She has served in the Peace Corps and has been a volunteer for the World Health Organization in Nigeria. She volunteers in food distribution centers in Santa Fe.

Devitt has been a nurse for 32 years and has served in her current position since 2007. The certified diabetes educator has been educating patients in both hospitals and ambulatory settings for years.

"It is an honor," Devitt said of receiving the award. "I've always totally loved being in nursing, and I believe that nursing, the profession, gives us an opportunity to focus on wellness ... We get to spend more time with the patients. For me, it's always been an honor to be a nurse."

Nursing is a family tradition for Devitt.

"I grew up in Central Brazil and my mother is a nurse so I grew up doing public health nursing with my mother," Devitt said.

She recruits patients to do outreach.

"I've recruited the patients to work with us on the diabetes team, and the patient becomes the expert," Devitt said. She calls this the Community Health Workers Model. "I work with an incredible team of people with the passion to help other people, so we recruit from the population we serve and they turn around and help others in the community."

In recruiting former patients to do outreach, she has also inspired them to pursue careers in the medical field. She said a few of her former community outreach workers have become doctors, another few have become nurses and one has become a medical administrator.

"There's nothing that gives you more empathy than having had the experience yourself," Devitt explained. "They don't just talk the talk; they walk the walk."

Devitt is grateful to both her team and her family for helping make her successful.

"I give credit and thanks to my wonderful, supportive family," Devitt said. "Poor things, I work 14-hour days and they have been incredibly supportive."

Nursing is a lifelong learning experience, Devitt said.

"I'm excited about what the career has offered to me," Devitt said. "I think it's given me a chance to be part of a lot of people's lives and work with them on their goals."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.