Purpose:
St. Joseph Hospital honors nurses that collectively and collaboratively exhibit the skills, expertise, and personal attributes that enhance to the delivery of exceptional patient care. Nominees demonstrate clinical excellence within their nursing practice and develop innovative approaches that improve patient outcomes. They engage respectfully and professionally with the interdisciplinary team, elevating the nursing profession and consistently embodying the St. Joseph Hospital core values: Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.
Claudette Mahar infused her work with an innate ability to effectively and tenderly care for others, a skill that would become her trademark during both her nursing career and throughout her personal life. Her nursing career spanned 51 years, working as a flight nurse in the Air National Guard in Vietnam before starting a 45-year journey with St. Joseph Hospital. She held many roles during that time, including Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive and ultimately retired in 2012. Claudette served her community proudly, gaining deep satisfaction by bringing joy and love to people she didn't know personally.
The Claudette Mahar Lifetime Achievement Award honors a nurse whose career reflects more than 20 years of unwavering dedication to compassionate patient and family-centered care. This prestigious recognition celebrates a professional whose enduring commitment, integrity, and excellence have left a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the nursing profession as a whole. The nominee has made meaningful and sustained contributions to nursing through exemplary clinical practice, thoughtful policy development, active participation in professional organizations, and dedicated service on committees and councils. Their influence extends beyond the bedside through mentorship, advocacy, leadership initiatives, and volunteerism within both the hospital and the broader community. This nurse’s legacy is defined by a deep commitment to advancing the profession, improving patient outcomes, and inspiring future generations of nurses. Through decades of service, they embody the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and lifelong dedication to nursing excellence.
The Claudette Mahar Lifetime Achievement Award honors a nurse whose career reflects more than 20 years of unwavering dedication to compassionate patient and family-centered care. This prestigious recognition celebrates a professional whose enduring commitment, integrity, and excellence have left a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the nursing profession as a whole. The nominee has made meaningful and sustained contributions to nursing through exemplary clinical practice, thoughtful policy development, active participation in professional organizations, and dedicated service on committees and councils. Their influence extends beyond the bedside through mentorship, advocacy, leadership initiatives, and volunteerism within both the hospital and the broader community. This nurse’s legacy is defined by a deep commitment to advancing the profession, improving patient outcomes, and inspiring future generations of nurses. Through decades of service, they embody the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and lifelong dedication to nursing excellence.
Eligibility: Any nurse or retired nurse at St. Joseph Hospital with a minimum of 20 years experience.
Process: Any employee, physician, patient or volunteer may nominate. Recipients will be selected on the basis of evidence provided by completion of the nomination criteria.
Award: Award winners will be announced and presented during Nurses’ Week.
Deadline: All nominations must be received by April 18, 2026.
Instructions: Please cite specific examples including patient and physician comments. Expectation is to have at least 3-4 paragraphs to support this nominee. Failure to provide multiple, specific examples may result in disqualification of nomination.