Hoag celebrates nurses at annual luncheon

As California struggles to meet demands for new nurses, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian honored its nursing education task force for the third-straight year Tuesday at a luncheon in Costa Mesa.

The event, at the Turnip Rose at 1901 Newport Blvd., recognized community members who have contributed to the “Choose Nursing, Choose Hoag” program, a task force of the Hoag Hospital Foundation that raises funds for nursing education.

Carla Schneider, a nursing scholarship recipient, and Venice Keller and Jennifer Figuerroa, a mother-daughter team of nurses, were among those giving presentations.

Around the restaurant, Hoag staffers also set up exhibits demonstrating stroke care, family-centered care and other nursing specialties.

Spokeswoman Meghan Duffy said the “Choose Nursing, Choose Hoag” campaign had netted more than 300 charitable gifts to date, totaling nearly $6.3 million.

The most recent fiscal year brought in nearly $2 million from a total of 101 charitable gifts.

— Michael Miller