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Compassion, leadership, experience.

Those are just a few of the qualities judges took into account when they recognized five University of Minnesota-affiliated nurses during Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s 2015 Outstanding Nurses Awards on July 14.

The magazine announced the winners during a ceremony at MUSE Event Center in Minneapolis. A total of 20 nurses employed in the Twin Cities region received honors, including the following University of Minnesota nurses:

• Mary Kay Borgstrom, Fairview Riverside Clinic—“Outstanding Nurse in Mental Health”
• Katrina Hannah, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital—“Outstanding Nurse in a Hospital Setting”
• Tseganesh Orcutt, University of Minnesota Physicians Neurology Clinic—“Outstanding Advanced Practice Nurse”
• Polly Rabe, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital—“Outstanding Nurse in Military Service” (Given to a nurse who cares for veterans or is active or former military.)
• Renee Sieving, University of Minnesota School of Nursing—“Outstanding Nurse Researcher”

Eligible nurses are nominated for the awards by the public and the medical community, according to information released by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Nominations are then vetted and judged by a team of veteran nurses working in the profession.

Nominations were assessed on a seven-point rubric that included:professionalism; bedside manner; patient interaction; credentials and experience; impact on an organization; leadership; and an "it" factor exemplifying kindness, compassion and empathy. Additional weight was given to those who received multiple nominations from a variety of sources, and to those nominated by their patients.