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(Office: 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465)

GBMC Nursing Executive Receives
Prestigious Advanced Certification
Damascus Resident Earns Designation As Certified Nursing Advanced Administrator

BALTIMORE – August 25, 2005 – Vendla Esler, RN, MBA, PhD, CNAA-BC, administrative director of medical and surgical care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, has received certification as a certified nursing advanced administrator (CNAA) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.

The CNAA designation demonstrates advanced knowledge in care delivery models and services and recognizes excellence in nursing. Esler, of Damascus, Md., will celebrate her third year at GBMC this fall and has been a nurse for 25 years.

“Earning this certification is another way we can ensure our patients are receiving the highest level of quality care possible and is a significant personal and professional accomplishment,” said Esler.  Her responsibilities at GBMC include providing administrative leadership and management for nursing staff; directing daily operations of assigned clinical and ancillary services; and collaborating with physician leaders for strategic and tactical planning and development.

Esler demonstrated competency in several topics to earn the CNAA designation, including economics, human resources, ethics and legal/regulatory issues.

The ANCC is the largest and most prestigious nursing credentialing organization in the United States and its certifications are highly regarded across the nation.

About GBMC
GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Health Center, which offers comprehensive health and family services to the residents of East Baltimore; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 300-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 50,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org.

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Editor’s Note: Please contact Michael Schwartzberg for a headshot photo of Vendla Esler in JPEG format.