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Festivities for this year's National Nurses Week are underway at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM). The annual celebration began on May 6 and concludes on May 12, and gives NYM an opportunity to recognize the one thousand nurses and nursing associates who serve on the Hospital's staff.

Above, Diane Bonet, R.N., has received New York Methodist Hospital's 2015 Registered Nurse of Distinction Award.

Central to National Nurses Week activities at NYM are the Nurse Recognition Awards, in which outstanding, peer-nominated New York Methodist staff members are chosen to receive special accolades. For 2015, seven were singled out for chief honors.

Diane Bonet, R.N., of the Hospital's pediatrics unit, received the 2015 Registered Nurse of Distinction Award, the highest accolade conveyed during National Nurses Week at NYM. Ms. Bonet resides in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, and has worked at the Hospital for more than 15 years. Throughout her tenure, rave reviews of Ms. Bonet's care for pediatric patients have poured in from children and family members alike.

"I love helping children. When I'm here, the only thing I think of are the patients in our pediatric unit, and the families and loved ones who are with them," reflected Ms. Bonet. "I ask myself, 'If I were in their places, what could a nurse do for me during an inpatient stay-not just medically, but also in terms of emotional support?' Each child has his or her own story, his or her unique needs, so that patient's treatment cannot feel to them like it is 'one-size-fits-all.' That's the mentality I try to bring to my work."

Six other New York Methodist staff members received NYM's top awards for Nurses Week.

The RN Mentor Award, given to veteran nursing staff members with an outstanding ability to help other nursing staff refine on-the-job skills, was jointly presented to Esther Mercado, R.N., director of nursing, and Kathleen Marquino, R.N., clinical nurse leader. Ms. Mercado makes her home in Mill Basin, and Ms. Marquino resides in Floral Park, Queens.

Nadia Braswell, unit care assistant in NYM's ICU, shared the Outstanding Nursing Associate Award with Steven Dulski, lift team aide. Ms. Braswell is a Ditmas Park resident, and Mr. Dulski lives in Dyker Heights.

The New RN Leader Award, reserved for New York Methodist's superior first-year nurse, was given to Maxiana Louis, R.N., who works in the Hospital's medical-surgical unit. Ms. Louis resides in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

And the Friend of Nursing Award, presented annually to a non-nurse staff member whose close collaboration with the nursing team has drawn high praise, went to Officer Ruben Capeles, of NYM's Security Department. Mr. Capeles lives in Marine Park.

"One out of every four New York Methodist employees is a nurse-that's what always makes National Nurses Week such a high point at this Hospital," said Rebecca Flood, R.N., NYM's senior vice president for nursing. "They collectively represent the culture of patient-centered care that reflects New York Methodist Hospital's mission.

"But at NYM, National Nurses Week is about more than just the nurses in our Hospital," continued Ms. Flood. "The millions of nurses across America form the backbone of inpatient care. It's in that spirit that we're celebrating not just New York Methodist's staff members, but every man and woman across the country that has chosen the profession of nursing. We're proud of the role that we play, every day."