Julie Buenting, RN, is the first Carle Clinic nurse honored in 2008 with the Clinical Nurse Excellence Award. Buenting has worked with Michael Day, MD, for eight of her 10 years at Carle Clinic Association. A frequent employee of the month in her department, Julie will be nurse coordinator at Carle Clinic – Champaign on Curtis upon opening this year. She is also chair of Carle Clinic’s Patient Education Council.

Julie is described as a team player with a positive attitude. Very involved with her church, she has served on several mission trips. She explains that her work and her volunteerism are “really about serving the patients.” Julie and her family traditionally spend Thanksgiving volunteering with the homeless as well. She is also involved with her children and their school activities.

Other nurses nominated were: Kathy Smith, NPN/CNP, OB/GYN; Kathleen Shepherd, RN; Carle Spine Institute; Joanie Bonnell, RN, Pulmonology; Virginia Ingersoll, RN, Carle Clinic – Monticello; Michelle Delloroso, RN, Carle Clinic – Southeast Urbana and Kim Houmes, RN, Carle Clinic – Danville on Fairchild.