Baptist Hospital Nurse Barbara Russell Inducted into Florida Nurses Association Hall of Fame

The Florida Nurses Association (FNA) has honored veteran Baptist Hospital nurse Barbara S. Russell, R.N., MPH, BSHSA, CIC, with induction into the Florida Nurses Association Hall of Fame. Russell was inducted at a special ceremony Sept. 12 during FNA’s annual conference in Orlando.

The FNA Hall of Fame recognizes nurses whose contributions have made a significant and enduring impact on the nursing profession through leadership, education, practice, research or organizational work.

“Induction into the FNA Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of achievement for a Florida nurse,” said Deborah S. Mulvihill, corporate vice president and chief nursing officer of Baptist Health South Florida. “Barbara Russell is admired and respected not only within our Baptist Health nursing team, but across the country, as well. She richly deserves this recognition.”

Russell is director of infection control services at Baptist Hospital and is a member of Baptist Health’s System Emergency Preparedness Council. She has specialized in infection control for more than 30 years and is Infection Control Certified. She received the 2002 City of Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Health Professional Hero of the Year Award, as well as the Carol DeMille Achievement Award from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) for her outstanding contributions to infection control and patient care.

In 1997, Russell received the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care’s National Leadership Award. In 1994, she was national president of APIC, and, in 1999, president of the National Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations. She has also served as chair of both the Florida Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association’s HIV Task Force. In 1988, she was one of 14 U.S. nurses to receive a Certificate of Commendation from the assistant secretary of Health and Human Services for her work on AIDS.

Russell has testified before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State of Florida legislators and three U.S. congressional subcommittees on behalf of healthcare worker safety. She actively promotes education and safer work environments and has written numerous articles for professional newsletters and journals.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was just listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#19 in the nation and #1 in Florida) and has remained on the list for 14 years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the third year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute.

Contact: Kathy Barbour; 786-596-6534