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Spectrum Health Leader Wins Nursing Honor

Shawn Ulreich, RN, MSN, chief nursing executive/vice president, patient care services, Spectrum Health Hospital Group, has been honored for her leadership in the nursing field.

The Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award is presented annually by Kappa Epsilon-at-Large Chapter of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Ulreich is responsible for nursing practice at Spectrum Health hospitals, including Butterworth Hospital, Blodgett Hospital, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Spectrum Health United Hospital, Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital and Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital.

The Honor Society of Nursing represents more than 130,000 active members in 86 countries.  Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. Its annual awards program is highly competitive with stringent criteria for nomination.

Ulreich was nominated by a staff nurse at the hospital.

“In addition to recognizing Shawn’s amazing leadership talent, another reason for submitting the nomination is that she is treasured as a role model for aspiring nurse leaders. She is a stellar chief nurse executive and a woman who I admire and look up to,” said Amy Manderscheid, RN, BSN, gastrointestinal genitourinary services, Spectrum Health.

Ulreich came to Spectrum Health in 2004 as chief nursing officer (CNO), with previous experience as a CNO, director, clinical nurse specialist, nurse manager, clinical instructor and staff nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. She has implemented innovative programs at Spectrum Health including the EXCEL program (a professional development program for nurses), the Relationship-Based Care model of patient care delivery, and Units of the Future where innovations can be tested by staff and nursing leadership in patient care units.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through its seven hospitals, more than 140 service sites and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.  The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards during the past 10 years. More news about Spectrum Health is available at spectrum-health.org/news.