Marianne Houlne has been a nurse for the past 20 years, and a certified nurse for about 10 years. Houlne, 51, of the Renton area has accomplished a lot during that time. In addition to treating patients, she’s served on regional and national nursing certification boards and written test questions for national nursing certification exams.

For her hard work in the clinical, education and service areas of nursing, Houlne was recently named the 2008 Certified GI (gastrointestinal) Professional of the Year at the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses, Inc. Annual Gala and Awards Banquet. About 250 nurses attended the gala, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“It’s a huge honor,” Houlne says of her award. “Especially since it’s just given to one person each year.”

Houlne was nominated by a fellow nurse at Valley Medical Center. She then had to go through an application process.

Houlne began as a medical nurse at Burien’s Highline Medical Center, (then Highline Community Hospital). She joined the gastroenterology department in 1991. Today, Houlne works as a certified gastroenterology registered nurse at Southlake Clinic in Renton. She also works on call at Valley Medical Center. At Southlake Clinic Houlne sedates patients for gastrointestinal procedures, such as colonoscopies. At Valley Medical she helps with gastrointestinal emergency procedures, mainly on nights and weekends.

“I love nursing,” Houlne says. “I love teaching patients and I love teaching nursing staff.”

“One of my mottos is we serve about 400 patients a month, but if I’m able to mentor people and teach people, I’m able to reach a lot more patients,” Houlne adds. “The more people I teach and mentor, the more patients get quality care.”

Houlne says her award is important because it recognizes the importance of certification in nursing. Not many people realize that nurses, as well as doctors, can be certified, she says.

“Nursing is becoming more and more important,” she says. “We’re extenders of physician’s care. It used to be people wanted a board-certified doctor. Now they’re really looking for professionalism in nursing staff.”

Valley Medical Center is especially looking for certified nurses, Houlne says. Staff at the Renton hospital are proud to have Houlne on board.

“We’re just really proud she received the award,” says Dana Vander Houwen, Valley Medical spokesperson. “It speaks to the quality of nursing staff we have here.”

Emily Garland can be reached at emily.garland@reporternewspapers.com or (425) 255-3484, ext. 5052.