May 9, 2024

CONCORD, NH – The Foundation for Healthy Communities is pleased to announce Haylie Robinson, RN, of the VA Manchester Healthcare System, as the 2024 recipient of the Clint Jones NH Nursing Award, marking the first time in the program’s 18-year history that a nurse from the VA Manchester Healthcare System has received the prestigious award. Robinson received the annual award during a special Nurses Week celebration held Wednesday, May 8th.

The Clint Jones NH Nursing Award was created in 2006 by the Foundation for Healthy Communities to honor the memory of the former director of the Foundation’s N.H. Nursing Workforce Partnership. The award recognizes a registered nurse practicing in New Hampshire for at least one year but not more than six years, who exemplifies quality, compassionate nursing care and demonstrates a commitment to a career in nursing.

In nominating Robinson for the award, her supervisors, Paul Reczek and Kim Josey, highlighted Haylie’s innovation, communications skills and her commitment to always helping colleagues, stating, “Haylie is a self-directed nurse with an excellent work ethic . . . Haylie is a very effective communicator and leads her PACT team huddles and preplanning meetings. Throughout the clinic Haylie is often consulted by peers to discuss difficult conversations and strategies to navigate them. She is one of the first nurses to recognize a team member needing assistance and always offers to help. Haylie is an advocate for her Veterans and can often be a resource for other nurses.”

Haylie is also a strong patient advocate, according to her peer nominator, Thomas Boynton, RN. Said Boynton, “A recent walk-in patient that was reporting symptoms of a possible spinal cord injury, but refused to be directed to emergency care, requesting only that he obtain an order for imaging. She was able to encourage the veteran to wait and speak to the provider about his very concerning symptoms. She stayed with the patient and provider while they met and helped determine the best course of action for this veteran.”

Presenting the award to Robinson was Kris Hering, MSN, RN, NE-BC, FACHE, Vice President, Quality Improvement, for the Foundation for Healthy Communities, who shared a few thoughts on how much it means to be able to recognize those in the nursing profession through the award, particularly as a nurse herself.

“As a nurse myself, I know the challenges you face daily, yet you go above and beyond and truly shine, Haylie. You embody the very essence of what it means to be a nurse – compassionate, skilled and always ready to use your voice to advocate for those in need,” said Hering. “We congratulate Haylie on receiving this well-deserved award, but more importantly, we thank her for her dedication and commitment to her patients at the VA Manchester Healthcare System. Her dedication to nursing and the difference she makes in the lives of those she cares for is truly inspiring.”

Also nominated this year for their commitment to excellence in compassionate nursing were Abigail Olivier of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Abigail Thistlewood of Concord Hospital, Alexandria Giesing of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Brittany Hirsch of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Christina Langley of Concord Hospital, Courtney White of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dylan Demers of Concord Hospital, Elizabeth Walsh of Cheshire Medical Center, Emily Burnham of Matera Health Epsom Health Care, Erin Joyce of the VA Manchester Healthcare System, Erin Pottle of the VA Manchester Healthcare System, Evan Houle of Elliot Health Systems, Faith Farnham of Concord Hospital, Gianna Alberici of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Grace Auger of Cheshire Medical Center, Jordin Adams of Concord Hospital, Kaitlyn Gebo of Concord Hospital, Kara MacGibbon of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Katelyn Bemis of Cheshire Medical Center, Kirsten Sweetman of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Michael Ferrone of Elliot Health Systems.

Between November 2002 and February 2005, the N.H. Nursing Workforce Partnership, under the direction of Clint Jones, distributed millions of dollars in forgivable loans to hundreds of aspiring nurses in college and practicing nurses who received specialty training or advanced degrees.

The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC) is a non-profit organization that builds healthier communities for all by leading partnerships, fostering collaboration, and creating innovative solutions to advance health and health care.

Photo Information: In celebration of Nurses Week, Registered Nurse Haylie Robinson (center) garnered the prestigious Clint Jones New Hampshire Nursing Award presented by Vice President Kris Hering, Quality Improvement, for the Foundation for Healthy Communities (right). VA Manchester Nurse Executive Jennifer Winslow (left) hosted the annual Nursing Excellence Awards Ceremony at Manchester VA Medical Center, May 8, 2024, to acknowledge the excellence in health care and dedication of nurses and our strong ties with our community partners. (VA Manchester photo by Lori Flynn)

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