Amanda Hosier

LA PLATA, Md. – The Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) District 9 has named Registered Nurse Amanda Hosier, BSN, CWCN, as the recipient of the 2018 Nurse of the Year Award. This prestigious honor is given as public recognition to extraordinary nurses who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate care. Hosier, an inpatient wound care nurse specialist at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center (UM CRMC), was presented with her award during the MNA District 9 awards ceremony on May 7.

Hosier was selected as the winner for her innovation and leadership in launching a multifaceted Inpatient Wound Care Program aimed at reducing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and decreasing readmissions associated with the condition. A significant drop in the overall incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers – from 15.9% to 1.4% — is evidence of the inpatient pressure ulcer prevention program’s success. As part of the effort, Hosier organized a Wound Care Implementation Team and Skin Care Team, and produced a Wound Words newsletter used to educate patients at the bedside and in classroom settings.

Dana Levy, vice president and chief nursing officer at UM CRMC, submitted a letter of support for Hosier’s nomination. Levy’s letter credits Hosier as “the right person in the right place at the right time” to design, build and establish an Inpatient Wound Care program for UM CRMC.

“Amanda has been on a progressive professional journey with a focus on wound care,” said Levy. “Despite being in a rural area, which brings unique challenges for patient care, Amanda believes opportunities are possible. She transforms ideas into action that produces positive results, while maintaining enthusiasm and compassion for the patients she serves.”

In her nomination statement for Hosier, UM CRMC’s Clinical Program Director for Wound Care Services and Hosier’s immediate supervisor, Amber Fowler, MSN, RNC, CWOCN, described Hosier as a “positive change agent.” Specifically, Fowler noted Hosier demonstrated leadership, passion for nursing, and dedicated service as a key collaborator at UM CRMC. As a department of one, Hosier works frequently with case management, the hospitalist’s team, and nursing administration to strategically improve patient experience and patient care and at the same time reduce the overall cost of care.

Licensed registered nurses in all fields of nursing are eligible for the MNA District 9 Nurse of the Year Award.