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Local substance abuse RN named ‘Nurse of the Year’

Cindy Swiskey

Cindy Swiskey, a registered nurse who specializes in substance abuse treatment, has been selected as Eastern Long Island Hospital’s “Nurse of the Year.”

The award was founded in 1986 by Carl E. Vail, Sr., a lifelong supporter of ELIH, along with the rotary clubs of both Southold and Greenport. The award is named after Laura Goodale, who was known as the North Fork’s “Florence Nightingale” during her 42-year career at ELIH in Greenport.

Ms. Swiskey received her award Tuesday at a dinner in her honor at the Soundview restaurant in Greenport.

The Southold resident has worked at ELIH for the past 23 years where she helps patients struggling with addiction to realize the importance of staying clean. She also provides them with resources to remain drug and alcohol free once they leave the facility.

“There are many deserving people at the hospital,” she said about the award. “I’m very honored to have been selected this year.”

Dr. Patricia Pispisa, ELIH vice president of patient care service, described Ms. Swiskey as a “highly specialized nurse.”

She added Ms. Swiskey provides emotional and physical support to all of her patients.

Ms. Swiskey described her job as “heartbreaking, but it’s very awarding.”

“It’s sad,” she said. “There is such a crisis right now with the heroin epidemic and that there is such a stigma surrounding it.”