California School Nurses Honored Shriners Hospital for Children

SACRAMENTO, Calif.) The California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) honored Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California at its 64th annual conference that took place in Sacramento March 27 – 30. On Saturday, March 29, Mason Myers and Catherine Curran were presented with the 2014 Lyda Smiley Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the well-being of children and school nursing made by someone other than a school nurse. Myers, staff development manager at the Northern California Shriners Hospital, and Curran, communications director, worked together to organize a pre-conference seminar for school nurses at the hospital. The Northern California Shriners Hospital has worked in partnership with school nurses for many years. In accepting the award, Curran recognized that “all care begins in the community” and thanked the more than 400 nurses in attendance for ensuring that children and families are aware of the resources available to them, including Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Lyda Smiley was a California nurse who dedicated her career to school nursing and through her estate set up the Lyda Smiley award. Over the years, CSNO has honored physicians, superintendents, legislators and organizations for their outstanding contributions. The CSNO section that organizes the annual conference selects the Lyda Smiley award recipient each year.

Shriners Hospital for Children — Northern California is a regional pediatric medical center providing highly specialized care and rehabilitation to children with congenital conditions and complex medical needs regardless of the patient or family’s ability to pay. The hospital is recognized as a leading provider of pediatric orthopaedic care and distinguished as the region’s most active and most noted pediatric burn center. From their world-class research team to their surgeons, nurses, and therapists, every member of their staff is focused on improving children’s quality of life.

Located at 2425 Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California provides care to children with orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns, cleft lip and scars from any cause. There are no barriers to care as admission is based on age and diagnosis. For further information call 916-453-2000 or go online to shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.