Recognition for Nursing Alum

Cathie Jones, RN, MSN
UMDNJ-School of Nursing ’08

As a finalist in the teaching category of the 2011 Greater Philadelphia/Tri-State Nurse Excellence Awards, sponsored by Nursing Spectrum magazine, Cathie Jones, a graduate of the Master of Science in Nursing program in Mental Health, was among the 30 finalists recognized for the extraordinary contributions nurses make to their patients, other nurses, and the community.

Jones was singled out for her work as a clinical adviser, liaison and resource to the clinical staff at Kennedy’s Health System’s Behavioral Health Services in Cherry Hill, where she serves as clinical director. With a focus on patient safety and clinical excellence, she has taken a leadership role in several key initiatives, including patient safety rounds, behavioral health’s personal assessment/patient search procedure (aimed at identifying potentially dangerous items), and the establishment of the Tier 1 Alert psychiatric emergency response team that has resulted in a substantial reduction in behavioral disturbances within the hospital setting.

Earlier this year, she was the recipient of a quality award at Kennedy for her leadership role in developing and implementing the Tier 1 Alert program.