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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Out of the thousands of nurses who care for patients in North Carolina, only a very small percentage made the Great 100 list. Three of those nurses work at Presbyterian.

The Great 100, Inc. acknowledges 100 North Carolina nurses annually for excellence in patient care and their dedication to the nursing profession. Diane Byrum, Rachel Yandell and Dawn Bryant were nominated by their peers and chosen for this prestigious award. They were recognized with all honorees by the Great 100 at a gala celebration in Greensboro on October 6.

Diane, a Denver, N.C. resident, is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) for Critical Care Services at Presbyterian Hospital. She is responsible for maintaining and improving clinical expertise on the nursing staff in the medical/surgical intensive care unit (ICU) as well as the stepdown ICU and 4D. She has 12 years of CNS experience and also spent many years as a critical care educator. "I am truly blessed to live out my passion and purpose everyday," said Diane. "To be chosen as one of the Great 100 is just icing on the cake!"

Rachel is a nurse educator in the Diabetes Resource Center at Presbyterian Hospital. She graduated from the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing during World War II and has over 60 years of nursing experience. She is actively involved in local and national nursing organizations and is on the board of the Metrolina Association of Diabetes Educators.

Dawn is a staff nurse in the Women's and Children's Department at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and has 28 years of experience helping bring babies into the world. "I get to help start new families," she said, "and that makes it special." In addition, Dawn is chair of her unit's Clinical Practice Council and a fetal monitor instructor, has been a preceptor for 16 years and is active in the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

"These individuals have demonstrated excellent care and a commitment to the nursing procession," said Paula Vincent, MSN, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Presbyterian. "We are proud of their accomplishments and their dedication to and compassion for our patients and their families. Nurses like Diane, Rachel and Dawn help to ensure a remarkable patient experience, in every dimension, every time."

The Great 100, Inc., based in Greensboro, N.C., is a grassroots organization founded in 1988 to honor the nursing profession. It seeks to recognize the vital role of nurses in patient care, have a positive effect on the public image of nurses and the nursing field, recognize outstanding nurses on an annual basis and award scholarships for nursing education.