Coinciding with National Nurses Week, Shentique Brown, RN, was among the recipients of Weill Cornell Medicine’s first annual nursing awards. Shentique, a nurse in the division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, received the first annual Rising Star Nursing Award at a ceremony May 11 in the Belfer Research Building.
Shentique Brown, RN, far right, is among the recipients of Weill Cornell Medicine's first annual nursing awards.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for this award,” Shentique said. Nursing was not her first career. In fact, she spent years working in the healthcare field in regulatory compliance and coordinator roles before making the transition to nursing. She started out as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) before becoming a full-fledged registered nurse (RN), joining the Weill Department of Medicine in 2018. “I’d always been someone who was a caregiver in my family,” Shentique said. Her experience as a two-time breast cancer survivor inspired her to make the career switch. “The nurses I’d known [during my treatment] were so compassionate, so caring and helpful,” Shentique said. “I knew then it was something I wanted to do.”
During a typical day at the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, Shentique triages patients to ensure they get the proper treatment, reviews test results, obtains prior authorizations for medically necessary care, and effectively interfaces with both a high-volume of patients and physicians. Many patients may have comorbidities – the presence of more than one complex health condition – making a wholistic, effective approach to treatment even more vital.
The number of nominations Shentique received from colleagues for the award was significant, said Colleen Lee, RN, Director of Nursing & Patient Safety at Weill Cornell Medicine. “She was far and away our winner.” Ms. Lee noted Shentique’s empathy and patient-first mentality. In 2022, Shentique was recognized as a Super Star by the Weill Department of Medicine’s STAR performer Employee Recognition Program. Next, Shentique is working to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing, which will allow her to continue to grow within her nursing career.
Ms. Lee said that the nursing award was an important way to recognize nurses’ integral role within healthcare. The WDOM congratulates Shentique on this important honor.