During McLean’s Fall 2020 Nursing Conference on November 3, two annual awards were presented to deserving nurses from the McLean community. This year’s Margaret C. Tibbetts Award went to Florence Morin, RN, a clinical coordinator at the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Inpatient Program. The 2020 Julia Altschule Award was presented to Stephanie Spillane, a mental health specialist and community residence counselor at several programs throughout the hospital.
Margaret C. Tibbets Award
Winner Florence Morin, RN, was nominated by Jeanne McElhinney, MS, RN, BC, nurse director of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Inpatient Program. In her nomination, McElhinney called Morin “an excellent role model for both nurses and mental health specialists.” She lauded Morin for her “energy, enthusiasm, and excitement for knowledge within her field” and said that “her infectious style ignites others to learn and grow.”
In accepting her award, Morin thanked the doctors, social workers, nurses, medical specialists, therapists, and others that she works with. “Without them, I would not be able to do this job, so I would like to share this award with everybody that I work with,” she said. Morin, who has worked at McLean for six years, is currently enrolled in a master’s program in psychiatric nursing.
Named after the longtime director of the nursing school and of the Nursing Department at McLean, the Margaret C. Tibbets Award is presented each year to a nurse who exemplifies leadership in nursing, including advocacy in the advancement of the nursing practice, teaching, and research.
Julia Altschule Award
Nominated by a team of co-workers, Stephanie Spillane was the recipient of this year’s Julia Altschule Award. In nominating Spillane, her colleagues called her “intelligent, inquisitive, invested” and said that “every shift she is at McLean, staff can give examples of her compassionate, humane care, regardless of the program or night.” Spillane, they said, exemplifies “what it is to be a compassionate, empathetic member of the nursing staff.”
“I am beyond grateful to be able to work with so many talented people who really emphasize the importance of treating others with compassion, kindness, and empathy,” said Spillane on accepting the honor. “I am truly humbled and grateful, and I feel honored to have employees and coworkers who also know how to provide wonderful patient care.”
Given annually to a mental health specialist or staff nurse who has worked at McLean for two years or longer and who exemplifies the highest level of humane care for patients, the award was established in 1980 by Mark D. Altschule, MD, in memory of his wife. Mark Altschule was a consulting internist at McLean Hospital as well as director of Internal Medicine and Research in Clinical Physiology at McLean from 1947 to 1967.
Media Requests
Journalist or member of the media? We are available 24/7 for media requests.
