Hollings nurse wins national award

Staff Report

January 22, 2019

Stacey Warneke, RN, will be the first to say just how amazing her patients are.

It’s a clue as to why she’s the recipient of the 2019 Excellence in Blood & Marrow Transplantation Award on behalf of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). She will receive the national award during the ONS 44^th Annual Congress in Anaheim, California, in April.

Even though she’s thrilled to win the award, she’s quick to brag about her patients. As the donor coordinator working with patients at Hollings Cancer Center, Warneke gets to meet really special people. She coordinates related adult and pediatric blood and marrow transplant donors, as well as Good Samaritan donors from unrelated donor registries such as Be The Match, DKMS and Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program.

“They just come in and donate out of the kindness of their heart for somebody that they don’t even know,” she comments about the unrelated donors with whom she works. “It’s why it’s the patient population that I love so much.”

Warneke says she was surprised to get the news. “I really couldn’t believe it. It was really special. It means a lot. I’ve been in this role for almost 7 years, so it means a lot to receive something like that. I’ve been in bone marrow transplant my whole nursing career, so it’s really cool.”

Cindy Kramer, RN, program director of the Blood & Marrow Transplant and Oncology Navigation Program, says the award is prestigious since ONS is the national organization that promotes the nursing profession for oncology nurses.

“Stacey is the only recipient out of all the national applicants to win the award for Excellence in BMT Nursing. By winning the award – Stacey has demonstrated how she has contributed to the BMT nursing profession through patient advocacy, professional development, clinical expertise, research and community outreach.”

Highlighting some of Warneke’ s strengths, Kramer says she has contributed significantly in building an outstanding BMT Donor Program with an emphasis on donor-centered care. She also commends her community service as Warneke coordinates multiple donor drives each year for Be The Match and the American Red Cross to help save lives.

“She has a high work ethic, promotes donor advocacy, demonstrates exceptional clinical practice in nursing, receives exceptional donor satisfaction scores and promotes research through publications at the American Society of Blood & Marrow Transplant Conference,” she says.

“Stacey is a true role model for other nurses and always focuses on how she can make a positive impact for her patients while strengthening our care delivery system. We are very grateful for the exceptional care and compassion that Stacey provides to our patients. She is an extraordinary nurse, and we are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

Hollings nurse wins national award

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