Lori Rivkin, BSN, RN, of Wyncote (Cheltenham Township), was honored as a finalist in the Community Nursing award at the 2025 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania held Friday, October 24.
The Nightingale Awards honor nurses across Pennsylvania and their contributions to healthcare and community service.
Rivkin is a nurse with the Flourtown-based Guardian Nurses. Her colleague, Diane Bassett, RN, of Camden County, NJ, was named the award’s statewide winner.
From the release:
With 30 years of diverse nursing experience — including medical-surgical, ambulatory, perioperative, case management, and research — Bassett is known for her steady clinical judgment, organizational leadership, and ability to mentor and inspire others. Rooted in her belief that “teaching is a part of nursing,” she has built a reputation for empowering both patients and professionals through education, empathy, and example.
In her current community-based role with Guardian Nurses, no two days look alike. One day she may be at a patient’s bedside, the next in a doctor’s office or visiting a home after discharge. Across every setting, Bassett brings a sharp clinical eye and a calm, compassionate presence. Her ability to collaborate with colleagues to support a 4,000-member community has consistently led to measurable improvements in outcomes, experience, and continuity of care.
Her approach to advocacy is both proactive and deeply personal. In one case, a patient admitted walking was nearly discharged despite being unable to get out of bed. Bassett immediately intervened, asking the attending nurse, “Does this seem safe to you?” Her question changed the course of care. The patient was transferred to acute rehab, recovered safely, and avoided a likely readmission.
Her leadership has also helped shape team-wide improvements. Drawing on her knowledge of evidence-based models such as Mary Naylor’s Transitional Care Model, Bassett guided colleagues in redefining how outcomes are documented and measured, helping the organization more accurately capture the impact of nursing advocacy on patient well-being and cost savings.
“Diane’s work embodies what the Nightingale Awards were created to recognize,” said Betty Long, MHA, RN, Founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates. “She combines exceptional clinical skill with an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for every patient. Her compassion, intelligence, and integrity elevate the entire profession.”
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.
Photos: Guardian Nurses. Katie Ibberson Photography