TRENTON – Nearly 100 outstanding nurses from around the state were honored at the annual Governor's Nursing Merit Awards Dinner attended by 500 guests at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton last night.

Through this awards program the governor honors individual excellence and achievement in the nursing profession and publicly recognizes the vital contribution that nurses make to New Jersey’s healthcare system.

Nurses are selected for this award by their peers. Eleven top winners in each category receive a plaque and 88 others receive certificates of excellence. Nurses working in hospitals, nursing schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and community health agencies were among those recognized.

Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D. presented the awards to this year’s recipients for their accomplishments and service in the areas of patient care, nurse education, nursing research, administration, management and community health.

"Nurses are great advocates for their patients. For many reasons, including a nursing shortage, the aging of the workforce and the pressures of managed care, the job of a nurse is more challenging than it has ever been before,’’ said Dr. Jacobs.  “So it is important that we recognize and honor the contributions that have been made by the nurses who have been honored by their peers as recipients of the Governor’s Nursing Merit Awards.’’

The Nursing Advisory Committee has recognized the state's distinguished nurses each year since 1989. The advisory committee is comprised of 16 nurses and LPN’s from throughout the state. 

There are 109,000 licensed nurses in the state.

The following 11 recipients were chosen from more than 80 nominees for the 2006 Governor's Nursing Merit Awards:

Advanced Practice Nurse – Kathleen Judge of Berlin, APRN, BC, CWOCN, MSN, Virtua Health

Licensed Practical Nurse -- Acute Care – Marion Ingram of Piscataway, LPN, Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Solaris Health

Licensed Practical Nurse – Post Acute Care – Eileen Addesso of Saddle Brook, LPN, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation 

Nurse Administrator – Constance S. Patten of Staten Island, NY, EdD, RN, CNAA, BC, Raritan Bay Medical Center

Nurse Educator –Richard A. Ridge of Neptune, PhD, RN, CNAA, BC, Ann May Center – Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Nurse Manager - Acute Care – Judy Surko of Hazlet , RN, MSN, CCRN, CAN, Meridian Health, Riverview Medical Center

Nurse Manager – Post Acute Care – Jay H. Rosenberg of Cedar Grove, CRRN, BSN, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation

Nurse Researcher –  Elizabeth Kleber of Kendall Park, MSN, RN, CTN, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Registered Nurse – Acute Care – Susan Karl of Little Silver, RN, C, Meridian Health, Riverview Medical Center

Registered Nurse – Post Acute Care – Peter Waran Longa of Peapack, RN, Matheny Medical and Educational Center

Registered Nurse – Community Health – Janet Schaller of Leonardo, RN, Visiting Nurse Association of Central NJ