Award recipients recognized for achieving excellent outcomes, shaping future of nursing practice and demonstrating the impact of nursing professionals
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Feb. 22, 2018 – What does the impact of an outstanding nurse look like? A research nurse driven to reduce the harmful effects of an ICU stay for patients and their families. A clinical educator developing nurse-driven protocols to improve patient care. A hospital administrator leading efforts to reduce healthcare-acquired infections and stop sepsis. Advanced practice nurses nurturing a culture of excellence. Nurse managers who continually seek opportunities to improve patient outcomes.
These examples demonstrate the impact of the phenomenal nurses honored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for achieving excellent outcomes in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families.
This year, AACN will bestow the Circle of Excellence award on 11 nurses at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, Boston, May 21-24. (View recipient list.)
Criteria used to evaluate Circle of Excellence award candidates include relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; meaningful recognition of others; ability to transform thinking, structures and processes; and ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results through leadership.
AACN President Christine S. Schulman, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN-K, critical care and trauma clinical nurse specialist at Legacy Health in Portland, Oregon, praises the efforts of the caregivers who are selected for the Circle of Excellence award.
“These healthcare professionals exemplify why AACN is a community of exceptional nurses. Their efforts are transforming healthcare and shaping the future of nursing practice within their units, in the classroom, and throughout their organizations and their communities,” Schulman said. “I’m proud to recognize the Circle of Excellence recipients for being Guided by Why. Their efforts serve to ensure that every patient gets the excellent care they deserve and that every nurse has the tools and the skills they need to provide that care.”
AACN’s Circle of Excellence award aligns with the association’s mission of creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.
Highly regarded for its responsiveness to current trends in the nursing profession and the environments where nurses work, the award is supported by grants from Elsevier and Dale Medical. Awardees receive a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium.
About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the United States. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4109; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme
Recipients of 2018 Circle of Excellence Awards From the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Following is a list of recipients of the 2018 Circle of Excellence award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) in alphabetical order by state.
| California | Anna Dermenchyan, MSN, RN, CCRN-K UCLA Health, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles |
| Massachusetts |
Jason Thornton, MSN, RN, CPHQ, NE-BC Boston Children’s Hospital |
| Minnesota |
Sandra Hagstrom, PhD, RN, APRN, CPNP University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis |
| New Jersey |
Linda Lopazanski, MSN, RN, CCRN Raritan Bay Medical Center/Hackensack Meridian Health |
| Sandia Royal, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick |
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North Carolina |
Lauren Macko, MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, SCRN Carolinas Epilepsy Center/Neurosurgical ICU, Charlotte |
| Tennessee | Nicolas Abella III, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC Community Health System Professional Services Corp., Franklin |
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Leanne Boehm, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville |
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Texas |
Odette Comeau, DNP, RN, CNS, CCRN University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston |
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Washington |
Dana Kyles, MSN, RN University of Washington Medicine, Seattle |
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Wisconson |
Debra McCann, MSN, RN, CCRN Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin |