The Creativity Awards were established through a generous gift by Marie Manthey, former President and CEO of Creative Healthcare Management, and one of the most visionary and creative leaders within nursing. Marie wanted to provide a resource for staff nurses and other nurses directly working with patients to enable them to try new things to improve their patients' care. These might be simple things like developing a new relaxation tape for patients in the ICU, purchasing a video camera to help family members take pictures of their home settings for hospital-bound patients, piloting new ways to give a change of shift report, or creating a coloring book to help teach children how to better manage their asthma. In short, the Creativity Award is available to nurses who are working directly with patients and who want to try something new, or a new twist on something old.
What does the Award consist of?
Nurses can apply for up to $500 to help launch their idea.
How to apply?
The Creativity Awards Program is coordinated by the staff of the Densford Center. Application forms can be obtained here or from the Densford Center office (4-185 WDH), or by contacting Cory Franklin.
How are decisions made?
Applications will be reviewed by Marie Manthey, Joanne Disch, Director of the Densford Center, and two staff nurses. Criteria for selecting awards include impact on patient care, uniqueness of the idea, ease in implementing, and applicability of the idea to other patient populations.
Recipients of Creativity Award
August 2001
June Hamerski, RN
Outpatient Clinic
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
St. Paul, MN
Proposal: To establish a web site/bulletin board to act as a support group and educational tool for preteens and teens requiring spinal brace treatment.
