PRINCETON, NJ -- MaryPat Sullivan, RN, MSN, CNS, chief nursing officer and chief experience officer at Overlook Medical Center, has received a 2019 Divas of Nursing Award from the Institute for Nursing and the Foundation of the NJ State Nurses Association at the annual 'Divas and Dons in Nursing' celebration.
The event honored Sullivan and 12 other New Jersey nurses, leaders and educators who have made an extraordinary impact on the nursing profession and on improving the health of the community.
An integral part of Overlook's senior leadership team, Sullivan joined Overlook as CNO in 2007 and has created a healing environment with a focus on health care literacy and diversity, as well as implementing programs that provide for seamless pre-hospitalization, acute care, and post-hospitalization transitions of care.
Sullivan's leadership of the nursing staff has been instrumental in many of Overlook's achievements and accolades, including several disease-specific certifications by the Joint Commission. In March, Overlook was named among the 'World's Best Hospitals' by Newsweek in its inaugural rating. Overlook was also named one of 'America's 100 Best Hospitals' for the second year in a row in 2018 by Healthgrades, which also named Overlook a 2018 'Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence,' as well as among the top hospitals in the nation in a wide variety of specialties and services. Overlook's nursing excellence also helped the hospital achieve two consecutive "A" grades by the Leapfrog Group in 2018.
The Emergency Department at Overlook's Union Campus has been designated as an ENA (Emergency Nurses Association) Lantern Award winner three consecutive times. Sullivan has been individually recognized as well, including the Liberty Science Center's 'Women in STEM' award in 2016.
Nursing has been integral to the development of Overlook's status as a leader in neuroscience care, with U.S. News and World Report last year again designating Overlook as a high-performing hospital in neurology and neurosurgery - placing it among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the country for that specialty.
Through its annual 'Divas and Dons in Nursing' celebration, the Institute for Nursing calls attention to the outstanding achievements of accomplished New Jersey nurses. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for nursing students and nurses who are advancing their education. The institute also provides quality continuing education programs, and grants for nurses involved in research.