Colleen Burke
May 2025
Colleen
Burke
,
RN
Operating Room
Punxsutawney Area Hospital
Punxsutawney
,
PA
United States
That compassionate nature of Colleen continues to this day. Colleen goes above and beyond to ensure the patients are well cared for and the staff are prepared to have a good day. She is soft spoken and meticulous. She has thick skin and strong shoulders as she has carried many stressors of the OR business on them.
I am honored to submit a nomination for Colleen Burke for the prestigious DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. Colleen’s unwavering dedication, outstanding contributions, and leadership in our OR have made a profound impact, and her legacy has inspired countless individuals. This nomination is a testament to her enduring commitment to excellence and service.
Throughout her career, Colleen has exemplified the values and principles that the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to recognize. With nearly 45 years as a nurse at PAH, she has not only excelled in her professional work but has also shown exceptional leadership in mentoring others, promoting innovation, and advocating for meaningful change.
I have personally worked with her side by side since my arrival 31 years ago, so I have one of the best reasons to serve up a testimonial for Colleen.
Numerous accomplishments mark her professional journey, most of which aren’t rewarded with a plaque or trophy or even a “thank you” (the downside of working with surgeons), but with this award, we hope to give her one big, cumulative thank you.
Colleen has consistently gone above and beyond to make a difference. What’s crazy about the role she plays is that most patients probably never even know the difference she has made. From the frantic calls to assist in emergencies, to the other frantic calls to find something on the shelf, Colleen has responded to answer the call, 24/7, 365, holidays, and weekends, ignoring her own personal sacrifice.
What truly makes Colleen deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award is her remarkable character. Her compassion, work ethic, and tireless pursuit of excellence have made her a role model to all who have had the privilege to work alongside her.
I wholeheartedly believe that Colleen Burke’s career and personal contributions are exemplary and deserving of this prestigious recognition. Her impact is immeasurable, and her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of leaders in the OR.
***
It is with great privilege that I would like to nominate Colleen Burke for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award! I will start by sharing Colleen’s professional history. Colleen graduated from West Penn School of Nursing and started as a graduate nurse on June 16, 1980 on the med/surg unit here at Punxsutawney Hospital. That is nearly 45 years!! She received her RN and spent the first 3 years working med/surg and OB before transferring to the OR. She transferred to the OR and has remained there in various roles for 42 years. Prior to 2007, when she became the manager of the OR, she rotated with other staff members into the charge nurse role for several years. During her charge nurse years, and before I entered into the nursing workforce here, my Mother worked with Colleen in the OR. My mother spoke of Colleen at the time, and to this day, as the sweetest and most helpful in the OR, helping her to learn the ropes. Years later, Colleen helped me to learn the basics of the wonderful world of surgical services as I entered my current administrative role. Again....sweet and helpful to me as well.
That compassionate nature of Colleen continues to this day. Colleen goes above and beyond to ensure the patients are well cared for and the staff are prepared to have a good day. She is soft spoken and meticulous. She has thick skin and strong shoulders as she has carried many stressors of the OR business on them. During the height of Covid, Colleen and I had a motto that we would encourage each other with....."Just show up” but Colleen did much more than just show up then and through her many years at PAH.
Because Colleen has been at PAH, our community is healthier.....truly patients that were risking losing eyesight with cataracts had their sight restored, those with fractured hips have been able to walk again, those with hearts that were too slow gained more beats with Pacemaker insertions, and many...many....babies came into the world through c-sections, truly lives have been saved when those have arrived with hemorrhaging were stabilized in the OR. Colleen has been a part of
all of these OR procedures and many more....making our community better!
Colleen Burke....I tip my Nurse’s cap to you in respect and treasure you in my heart for the wonderful person, coworker, and friend you are.
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award could have been specifically created for you! Legacy, commitment, and leadership are a prime example of the qualities that come from you in your leadership in the OR. Another description is of extraordinary love and kindness to your co-workers, which only describes the very surface of what you have done for PAH and all of those around you, including me.
Colleen, I have many examples of the wonderful leader and coworker that you are and have seen in you. You are extremely devoted to your staff, co-workers, and patients. You spend hours more than most staff researching products, procedures, and cost efficiency r/t procedures for the protection of the hospital, patients, and staff.
Colleen, you are always there to lend a helping hand in times of need, regardless of how busy you may be at the time. Your work ethic is top-notch, you are always there to voice your concern if something doesn’t seem right with a process. So many times I have heard you say to the physicians and staff: “We do it because it’s the right thing to do.” Or “I'll do it.” Or “I'll cover the call.”
Colleen is “always available” and always willing to come in to help. Colleen, you always put other people’s needs above your own, in both a personal and professional aspect. The impact of your years of service and dedication will forever leave a footprint in the world of surgical services among physicians, staff, and patients. As patients continue to come through the OR, the care given will be because of your dedication and insistence on excellent care at all times. Your leadership, friendship, and compassion are elements that will be left behind long after you eventually finish your career at PAH. You will leave behind a legacy that others will strive to replicate. We will continue to cherish you as a leader in Surgical Services, and we can all hope to have your dedication as a leader and your kindness and generosity as a friend.
Colleen, I will always cherish our relationship and am thankful for you every day.
Throughout her career, Colleen has exemplified the values and principles that the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to recognize. With nearly 45 years as a nurse at PAH, she has not only excelled in her professional work but has also shown exceptional leadership in mentoring others, promoting innovation, and advocating for meaningful change.
I have personally worked with her side by side since my arrival 31 years ago, so I have one of the best reasons to serve up a testimonial for Colleen.
Numerous accomplishments mark her professional journey, most of which aren’t rewarded with a plaque or trophy or even a “thank you” (the downside of working with surgeons), but with this award, we hope to give her one big, cumulative thank you.
Colleen has consistently gone above and beyond to make a difference. What’s crazy about the role she plays is that most patients probably never even know the difference she has made. From the frantic calls to assist in emergencies, to the other frantic calls to find something on the shelf, Colleen has responded to answer the call, 24/7, 365, holidays, and weekends, ignoring her own personal sacrifice.
What truly makes Colleen deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award is her remarkable character. Her compassion, work ethic, and tireless pursuit of excellence have made her a role model to all who have had the privilege to work alongside her.
I wholeheartedly believe that Colleen Burke’s career and personal contributions are exemplary and deserving of this prestigious recognition. Her impact is immeasurable, and her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of leaders in the OR.
***
It is with great privilege that I would like to nominate Colleen Burke for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award! I will start by sharing Colleen’s professional history. Colleen graduated from West Penn School of Nursing and started as a graduate nurse on June 16, 1980 on the med/surg unit here at Punxsutawney Hospital. That is nearly 45 years!! She received her RN and spent the first 3 years working med/surg and OB before transferring to the OR. She transferred to the OR and has remained there in various roles for 42 years. Prior to 2007, when she became the manager of the OR, she rotated with other staff members into the charge nurse role for several years. During her charge nurse years, and before I entered into the nursing workforce here, my Mother worked with Colleen in the OR. My mother spoke of Colleen at the time, and to this day, as the sweetest and most helpful in the OR, helping her to learn the ropes. Years later, Colleen helped me to learn the basics of the wonderful world of surgical services as I entered my current administrative role. Again....sweet and helpful to me as well.
That compassionate nature of Colleen continues to this day. Colleen goes above and beyond to ensure the patients are well cared for and the staff are prepared to have a good day. She is soft spoken and meticulous. She has thick skin and strong shoulders as she has carried many stressors of the OR business on them. During the height of Covid, Colleen and I had a motto that we would encourage each other with....."Just show up” but Colleen did much more than just show up then and through her many years at PAH.
Because Colleen has been at PAH, our community is healthier.....truly patients that were risking losing eyesight with cataracts had their sight restored, those with fractured hips have been able to walk again, those with hearts that were too slow gained more beats with Pacemaker insertions, and many...many....babies came into the world through c-sections, truly lives have been saved when those have arrived with hemorrhaging were stabilized in the OR. Colleen has been a part of
all of these OR procedures and many more....making our community better!
Colleen Burke....I tip my Nurse’s cap to you in respect and treasure you in my heart for the wonderful person, coworker, and friend you are.
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award could have been specifically created for you! Legacy, commitment, and leadership are a prime example of the qualities that come from you in your leadership in the OR. Another description is of extraordinary love and kindness to your co-workers, which only describes the very surface of what you have done for PAH and all of those around you, including me.
Colleen, I have many examples of the wonderful leader and coworker that you are and have seen in you. You are extremely devoted to your staff, co-workers, and patients. You spend hours more than most staff researching products, procedures, and cost efficiency r/t procedures for the protection of the hospital, patients, and staff.
Colleen, you are always there to lend a helping hand in times of need, regardless of how busy you may be at the time. Your work ethic is top-notch, you are always there to voice your concern if something doesn’t seem right with a process. So many times I have heard you say to the physicians and staff: “We do it because it’s the right thing to do.” Or “I'll do it.” Or “I'll cover the call.”
Colleen is “always available” and always willing to come in to help. Colleen, you always put other people’s needs above your own, in both a personal and professional aspect. The impact of your years of service and dedication will forever leave a footprint in the world of surgical services among physicians, staff, and patients. As patients continue to come through the OR, the care given will be because of your dedication and insistence on excellent care at all times. Your leadership, friendship, and compassion are elements that will be left behind long after you eventually finish your career at PAH. You will leave behind a legacy that others will strive to replicate. We will continue to cherish you as a leader in Surgical Services, and we can all hope to have your dedication as a leader and your kindness and generosity as a friend.
Colleen, I will always cherish our relationship and am thankful for you every day.