Natchez — Deaconess HomeCare was awarded with the Nurse Employer of the Year Award by the Mississippi Nurses Association and the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.

Penny Lovitt, vice president of professional services, and Grace Flynt, RN, regional manager, were presented with the award at the Mississippi Nightingale Awards Gala at the Marriott Hotel in Jackson, on Feb. 4.

The Nurse Employer of the Year Award recognizes an employer of registered nurses that demonstrates recognition for professional nursing and innovation in leadership.

The recipient of this award is selected based on the following criteria: length of time organization has been in business, history of the organization, description of the organization’s most significant contribution to the healthcare industry and nursing profession, comments from nursing staff, demonstration of nursing recognition program within the organization, demonstration of support of nursing professional development, turnover of nursing staff and demonstration of support of nursing participation in professional organizations.