The New Jersey Chapter of the March of Dimes honored 18 award winners Dec. 4 at its 2014 Nurse of the Year Awards event in Sayreville, N.J.

The annual event recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional patient care, compassion and service in improving the health of New Jersey mothers and babies, according to a news release.

“We could not do the work of the March of Dimes without the passion and commitment of our nurses,” Allie Hall, central division executive director, New Jersey Chapter of the March of Dimes, said in the release. “This is our opportunity to show them how special they truly are.”

Among the winners and their categories were the following:

Kathleen Neville, PhD, RN, Kean University, Union, Academic Educator

Mary Stauss, MSN, RN, CEN, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, Adult Critical Care Emergency

Maureen D’Auria, MSN, RN, St. Joseph Home/The York Street Project, Jersey City, Advanced Practice

Theodora Sirota, RN, CNL, PMHCNS-BC, APN-C, Caldwell University, Behavioral Health

Kathleen Kelly, MHA, BS, RN, CCM, CPHM, Kennedy University Hospital, Stratford, Case Management

Reba Scharf, MSN, RN, CPE, CWS, CWCN, CHPN, Inspira Health Network, Woodbury, General Adult Care

Mary Murray, BSN, RN, Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center, West Orange, Hospice, Home Health, Palliative Care and Long-Term Acute Care

Eunice “Jackie” Blanchard, MSN, RN, CIC, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, Infection Control and Quality/Risk Management

Eleanita Enriquez, MSN, RN, CPNP, CCRN, CEIM, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Princeton, Neonatal

Jonathan Gapilango, MSN, RN, OCN, CCRP, NE-BC, Community Medical Center, Toms River, Nursing Administration

Joseph Alessandrini, BS, RPh, RPIC, FASHP, Inspira, Nurse Champion

Maureen Esteves, PhD, MSN, RN, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Nurse Educator

Dawn O’Neill, BSN, RN, CPN, Inspira, Pediatrics

Patricia Suplee, PhD, MSN, RNC-OB, Rutgers, Research

Kristen Irvine, RN, CBC, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, Rising Star

Christy McCoy, BSN, BLS, ACLS, PALS, Rutgers, Student Nurse

Deborah Cutrona, MSN, RN, CCRN, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, Surgical Services

Molly V. Walker, MSN, RN, CNM, SANE, FN-CSA, SANE-P, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, Women’s Health

“The work of the March of Dimes and Nurse of the Year are near and dear to my heart,” 2014 event chairwoman Karen Ahearn, MA, RN, NEA-BC, vice president, patient care services/CNO, Community Medical Center, said in the release. “The outcomes of the research, programs and advocacy work of the March of Dimes have markedly decreased the rate of prematurity and improved the health and well-being of our most precious patient population.”

More than 5,000 nurses were nominated nationwide, including 209 in New Jersey.

The awards were sponsored by AmeriHealth, Community Medical Center, Kennedy Health Systems, Meridian Health, Monmouth Medical Center, Preferred Home Healthcare and Nursing Services, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers School of Nursing.