Hebrew SeniorLife Honors Nursing Staff at Annual Academic Celebration
Judith Eyma, LPN, was selected as nurse of the year and Ruth Cineas was named nursing assistant of the year.
Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, one of Boston’s Top Places to Work, and New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, honored its nursing staff at its annual Academic Program Celebration on Wednesday, May 17th. Judith Eyma, LPN, was selected as nurse of the year and Ruth Cineas was named nursing assistant of the year.
Eyma is a staff nurse, LPN, at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. She started in 2003 as a nurse assistant on weekends.
“The nurse of the year is a person who consistently demonstrates the highest standards in their nursing practice, outstanding assessment skills, is a patient advocate, and consistently provides person-centered care,” said Tammy Retalic, DNP, M.S., R.N., chief nursing officer and the vice president of Patient Care Services for Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “Patients and their families trust Judith, and come to her with any concerns and then walk away with a smile knowing that they or their loved ones are safe and well cared for.”
Cineas is a patient care associate at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. She began her career at Hebrew SeniorLife in 2012 as a nurse assistant.
“The nursing assistant of the year is a person who consistently goes beyond and leads the way in providing person-centered care while also demonstrating personal and professional accountability and being an integral part of the nursing team. Ruth is a strong patient advocate, demonstrates personal and professional accountability, and is an important part of our nursing team,” said Retalic. “Ruth cares for all patients like they are her family. In one example of her dedication, Ruth came to work on her day off to sit with a patient in their final moments because they had no family.”
The Nursing Excellence Celebration, held last month, recognized recent graduates of the Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program based at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston. This five-week, fully paid program combines classroom time, lab skill training, and supervised time with patients. This year, nine persons from across our Hebrew SeniorLife sites graduated from the program.
The event also celebrated outstanding nurses and nursing assistants who achieved professional milestones, including those who were honored in the Boston Globe 2023 Salute to Nurses. Thirteen nurses working at Hebrew SeniorLife campuses across the Boston area were listed, and more than 30 were nominated for their dedication and caring that have saved lives, soothed fears, and eased the pain of countless patients and their families.
Additionally, at the event, Hebrew SeniorLife identified Eyma and seven other participants in its Nurse Excellence Program, which selects nurses to receive individually-crafted learning opportunities to deepen their skills in specific areas. Previous participants attended conferences and meetings, participated in policy or educational programming development, and helped in special projects to expand their skills in wound management, dementia care, or end of life, to name a few.
The event is also an opportunity to recognize the donors who provide critical funding for scholarships, career development opportunities, and professional growth for our nursing team.
“The donors’ generosity makes these programs viable and helps our nurses provide the best possible care for their patients,” Retalic said.
Hebrew SeniorLife serves as a clinical training site for students seeking R.N., LPN, or CNA degrees or certifications, and trains nursing students in inpatient (long-term care and short-term care) settings from partner schools, including Academy Health Care, Regis College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, and Labouré College.
The organization was recently designated as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. If you are interested in joining our team for a fulfilling career, please visit our careers page.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; and Jack Satter House, Revere. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $63 million, making it the largest gerontological research facility in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
