Lori Edelman is an extraordinary nursing leader who began her nursing journey at our organization in 1977. Her career has spanned more than 4 decades and has encompassed many roles including Staff Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, and Director.

From 2003 through 2009, she held the positions of Assistant Director of Performance Improvement and Director of International Nursing. She eventually returned to the Emergency Department, as Director of Nursing. More recently, her role as the director has expanded to include critical care and telemetry. Our honoree is passionate about her work and the responsibility she bears in meeting the needs of increasingly complex patient populations. She demonstrates and actively engages in the professional development of herself and others throughout our organization.

Our honoree achieved her master’s degree and has dual professional certifications in Emergency Nursing (CEN) and as a nurse executive (NE-BC). Our honoree was instrumental in the development and initiation of MSSN’s first Nurse Residency Program – The ED Residency. She further supported the transition of nurses into Emergency Nursing through the creation of the ED Fellowship program. Countless nurses successfully completed these training programs and emerged as proficient emergency nurses. Our honoree influences and inspires nurse leaders to pursue common strategic goals. She serves as a role model and advocates for nursing practice and the advancement of nursing as a profession. She candidly and thoughtfully considers how we set nursing priorities and implement initiatives. Her foresight enables her to anticipate the impact of change as she consistently strives to achieve excellence.

Our honoree demonstrates significant achievements that have advanced the practice of nursing at MSSN through improved patient outcomes, creation of positive work environments, and promotion of multi-disciplinary teamwork. Her accomplishments are many and have included: Redesigns of the ED environment, ACS survey preparation for trauma verification, numerous regulatory and disease-specific certifications, Opening of the freestanding ED at Long Beach, implementation of Code Throughput & Code Sepsis, and formation of biweekly interdisciplinary operations Meetings. She effected changes in the ED registration and admission process, as well as the enhanced bed assignment, transportation, and communication processes.

During our recent COVID surges, our honoree led the way in a period of chaos and uncertainty. Her calm and confident demeanor helped staff maintain focus and provide the best possible care in unprecedented circumstances, as we more than tripled our critical care beds last spring. Our honoree has been recognized by the nursing community as a transformational nursing leader. She received several awards in recognition of her service and achievements from the community- including the South Nassau Communities Hospital Cupola Award, Long Island Business 50 around 50, and the Nursing Excellence Gem Award. At the core of all our honoree’s accomplishments is that special connection she feels for patients, and for the nurses who care for them. She has strengthened Nursing through envisioning the future and inspiring her staff to “distill” their feelings “into actions which bring results” of excellence. Her impact on the lives she has touched has been immeasurable, for patients, for nurses, and for our organization!