LA PLATA, Md. (May 12, 2010)—Karl Muehlfeld, a school nurse at Thomas Stone High School, was named Nurse of the Year on Monday, May 3, at the Maryland Nurses Association District 9 annual awards dinner.
Deborah Heim, school nurse at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, also received the Joanne Zwick Caring Award.
The Nurse of the Year Award recognizes achievements, professionalism, and outstanding contributions to nursing and nurses whose practice positively affects patients, families, colleagues, students and the community.
Muehlfeld, known as “Nurse Karl,” was nominated for the award by Stone staff members, and students also submitted letters of support for his nomination. He has worked at Stone for the past seven school years, and previously worked at Mary H. Matula Elementary School for three years.
The Joanne Zwick Caring Award recognizes registered nurses who provide an outstanding excellence in bedside nursing care and professionalism within the nursing community.
Heim’s nomination was spearheaded by Higdon Principal Peggy Mertes, kindergarten teacher Lisa Barrett and Jill Jowdy, physical education teacher. Higdon students and staff also wrote letters of support for Heim’s nomination.
Heim has served as the school nurse at Higdon since 2001. She previously worked at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School from 1997 to 2000, and spent 24 years as a nurse at Greater Southeast Community Hospital in Washington, D.C.
District 9 of the Maryland Nurses Association includes registered nurses in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. For more information on the Maryland Nurses Association, visit http://www.marylandrn.org/.
Source: Charles County Public Schools