October 9, 2012
Suffolk County Toasts Long Island’s Nurse Practitioner of the Year
Laura Giardino, MS, CNP, of Hauppauge was named “2012 Nurse Practitioner of the Year” by the Nurse Practitioner Association of Long Island at its annual award ceremony in Smithtown last week. Laura has been the Medical Director of Suffolk County’s Learn to Be …Tobacco Free cessation program since its inception in June of 2000 and has been a nurse with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for over 26 years.
“Suffolk County is proud to recognize Laura Giardino for her many exceptional contributions to the residents of Suffolk County,” said County Executive Steve Bellone.
The Learn to be…Tobacco Free program has been recognized by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the American Lung Association. The rate of adult smoking in Suffolk County has declined from 21 percent in the year 2000 to 12 percent in the year 2012. Laura Giardino has personally administered to the majority of the 16,000 program participants who have tried to stop smoking through the program.
Commissioner of Health Services James Tomarken, who presented Laura with a proclamation on behalf of the County Executive and the 1.5 million residents of Suffolk County, said, “Tobacco cessation is only one of the many endeavors Laura has undertaken in her 26 years with the Department of Health Services.”
Laura has successfully advocated for the implementation of prepared childbirth classes for Suffolk County health center patients, promoted a program to mentor new moms, and trained SCDHS staff and members of the community in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). She also donates her time to the Nurse Practitioner Association of Long Island and New York State and acts as a mentor to other nurse practitioners and students.
The Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State exists to provide representation, communication and advocacy for nurse practitioners. The Nurse Practitioner Association of Long Island (NPALI) is a chapter of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State.