Pam Pourciau, an adult nurse practitioner in the River Parishes Hospital Occupational Medicine Center, was selected as the recipient of the 2011-12 Graduate Nursing Distinguished Scholar Award by the Southeastern Louisiana University graduate nursing faculty.

Pourciau was presented with the award at the 11th annual Southeastern Louisiana University College of Nursing and Health Sciences Honors Convocation, which was held in the Student Union Theatre. This award recognizes Pourciau as achieving the highest potential for contribution to the discipline of nursing through scholarly work.

Pourciau recently graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in December 2011 with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing after completing the adult nurse practitioner curriculum. Throughout her studies, she maintained a 4.0 GPA. She passed her Adult Nurse Practitioner Board and Certification Exam.

In her position at the Occupational Medicine Center, she provides pre-employment physicals and wellness and screening recommendations for potential employees in the River Parishes area. She develops and presents on-site employee educational forums on topics such as stress management, nutrition and smoking cessation at local industrial plants in collaboration with the hospital’s Wellness Works Program. Additionally, she is assisting in a training and development program for hospital telemetry monitor technicians, revising and simplifying the hospital Competency Assessment Program and facilitating and training trauma instructors for the Emergency Department to enable all ED nurses to become trauma credentialed.

Pourciau is a long-term employee of River Parishes Hospital. She actually began her career at RPH in February 1989 as nurse manager of the ICU and ED. She worked in many areas of the hospital throughout her 19 years here as well as taught CPR to the community and was both an instructor and faculty member for BLS, ACLS, PALS and TNCC. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners – New Orleans Chapter and the National Nursing Staff Development Organization, member and past president of the Southeast Louisiana Staff Development Organization and serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Council of Emergency Nurses Association. She recently joined the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and plans to become active within the local and/or state chapters.

“I am wanted to come back home to River Parishes Hospital to contribute to its future growth, development and success,” said Pourciau. “I am excited to be a part of the Occupational Medicine Center. My collaborating physician, Dr. Cusco, and the entire Occ-Med staff are skilled, caring and supportive.”