USA Health administrator receives international nursing award for second time
Brittany Brown, the only recipient from Mobile and one of two from Alabama, was quick to credit her colleagues with the same mentality and commitment to care.
By Michelle Ryan
mryan@health.southalabama.edu
Brittany Brown, M.S.N., RN, director of operations for internal medicine, recently was named a recipient of the 2024 Nurses of Note awards program.
PerfectServe, a provider of cloud-based clinical collaboration and provider scheduling solutions, recognized 150 winners from the U.S. plus the countries of Canada, Qatar, the UK, and South Africa who represent a broad range of backgrounds that highlight the breadth of experience in the nursing field today.
Brown said the award, which she has received for the second consecutive year, came as a surprise, but one that will motivate her to continue to improve patient care.
“I believe there are professional and compassion standards that one must commit to when becoming a registered nurse, and I am hopeful my actions will always be reflective of these commitments to patients and their needs,” she said. “I will continue to seek opportunities and be receptive to methods to improve how we care for our patients.”
Now in its fourth year, Nurses of Note was established in 2021 to celebrate the incredible efforts of nurses during the challenges of the pandemic. PerfectServe accepts nominations from friends, family or coworkers, and winners are selected from that field.
“We ask nominators to answer two questions, and then we evaluate all of the nominations to pick our winners,” said Matt Kothe, senior corporate marketing manager for PerfectServe. “The first question: How has the nominee gone above and beyond as a nurse in the past 12 months? The second question: What else should we know about this special nurse?”
Brown, the only recipient from Mobile and one of two from Alabama, was quick to credit her colleagues with the same mentality and commitment to care that she possesses.
“Our team has focused on the patient experience this year, increasing access and availability, and partnering with local community organizations such as Dumas Wesley in an effort to support individuals who work and play right down the street from USA Health,” she said. “I am adamant that we find ways to say, ‘yes’ for our patients, and I believe this mindset has positively impacted our patients in multiple ways.”
Brown’s nomination referenced her leadership, dedication to improving care and concern for the community around her. In part, it read, “I don't normally rely on one individual to determine steps in my healthcare journey, but Brittany has been an integral resource and challenged me to be the healthiest version of myself. She always makes me feel like I am her priority, and she gracefully helps me navigate healthcare industry challenges.
“Brittany is also finishing up a diversity, equity, and inclusion program, and I think this is a testament to her commitment to view patients as individuals and build better care plans that we all deserve”
PerfectServe’s Kothe said nurse recognition has always been important, but the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the incredible need to express appreciation.
“Even a few years removed from the peak of the pandemic, the industry as a whole is still facing staffing shortages, and a large number of more experienced nurses have retired or left the field entirely in the past couple of years,” he said. “We do believe that making it a point to recognize nurses for their great work and encouraging every healthcare organization to build joy and gratitude into their daily practice will pay off in the long run.”
A member of Mobile Bay’s 40 Under 40 class in 2019, Brown also contributes her time to Aubreigh’s Army, a local cancer support organization, and shares career development expertise with area high school students. She was among the 2023 recipients of the Mobile Community Health Leadership Award, and she also serves on the board of trustees for the Mobile Medical Museum.
