Springfield, VT (May 26, 2022) – Springfield Hospital is pleased to announce Lindsey Pollard, RN OCN as recipient of the 2022 Eileen Austin Neal RN Spirit of Nursing Award. Lindsey has been working at Springfield Hospital since 2004. This award was created in 2004 in honor of Eileen Austin Neal, RN, who worked at Springfield Hospital for 64 years and retired in 2005.

This award was created in 2004 in honor of Eileen Austin Neal, RN who worked at Springfield Hospital for over 64 years and retired in 2005. Judy Mittica, RN was the first recipient of this award on the request of Eileen. You can see a photo of Eileen along with her cap and uniform, and a list of the all the recipients since 2004 in the hospital lobby on Level C.

Criteria for the award includes communication, care for patients, nursing professionalism, and teamwork. Nominations are accepted from throughout the organization and are reviewed and voted on by a committee that includes the previous year’s recipient and a member of Eileen’s family, among others. This year’s nominees included Vicky Collingwood, BSN, RN, Assistant Manager and Unit Based Educator, Inpatient Care Unit; Lindsey Pollard, RN, OCN, Clinical Leader, Specialty Clinic; and Sue Pollard, BSN, RN, Director, Adult Day Services.

Contained within Lindsey’s nomination are the following words from one of her colleagues: “Lindsey holds standards for care and ensures the best for every patient, carefully paying attention to details, acknowledging her patients as human beings, and making sure processes and communication are happening that benefits her patients and department every day.” “On behalf of the staff of Springfield Hospital and its Board of Directors, I’m pleased to recognize Lindsey for her commitment to our patients and staff,” commented Robert Adcock, Chief Executive Officer for Springfield Hospital.