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Nursing Spectrum Magazine has bestowed its highest honor, “National Nurse of the Year,” on Gaye Riddick-Burden, R.N., CRNP, the nurse practitioner of the Sickle Cell Day Treatment Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. She received the Clinical Care Award for her ongoing advocacy on behalf of patients with sickle cell disease.

Ms. Riddick-Burden was chosen from among thousands of applicants who were nominated by their colleagues, peers and managers. She accepted the award recently at a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

A board certified nurse practitioner, Gaye Riddick-Burden was instrumental in designing and implementing the outpatient Sickle Cell Day Treatment Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which manages painful crises in patients with sickle cell disease. “The day unit’s marked growth since its inception in 2002 is a tribute to her leadership,” said Ruth Hart, R.N., MSN, a Jefferson nurse manager, who nominated Ms. Riddick-Burden for the 2005 award.

In her nomination, Ms. Hart noted that the sickle cell day treatment program is largely due to Ms. Riddick-Burden’s vision of improved care for patients. It targets an often under-served population and is driven by her desire to provide fast, effective care to those experiencing painful crisis. The goal is to help patients avoid long waits in an emergency room and to decrease inpatient stays that disrupt normal life activities.

Gaye Riddick-Burden extends her clinical care commitment beyond Thomas Jefferson University Hospital by running a nursing center for hypertension management in the African-American community at a local church. She also participates in health fairs, including an annual event targeting women’s health care issues, and is developing a community education program for diabetes control.

For information on the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, visit www.JeffersonHospital.org/hematology or call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.