San Diego, CA – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) today presented awards to six outstanding nurses, including its founding president, as well as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for its role in helping to establish the association 20 years ago.
The following awards were presented today:
- NACNS President’s Award to AACN and posthumously to Pat Bielecki, MS, APN/CNS, RNC-OB, the founding president of NACNS. The Award recognizes extraordinary service to NACNS. It was established in 2013 to honor individuals or groups that make significant contributions toward the accomplishment of the NACNS mission. Bielecki’s daughters, Amanda Austin and Elizabeth Godziak, accepted the award on her behalf
- Brenda Lyon Leadership Award to Carol Manchester, MSN, ACNS, BC-ADM, CDE, Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Fairview, Minnesota, and past president of NACNS. The Award recognizes extraordinary leadership in service to NACNS. It is named for Brenda Lyon, a founding member and the second president of NACNS.
- Sue B. Davidson Service Award to Stephen Patten, MSN, RN, CNS, CNOR, Director of Nursing Operative Care for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. The Award recognizes extraordinary service to NACNS. It is named for Susan B. Davidson, a founding member of NACNS who served two terms as President of the association and chaired the NACNS Research Committee.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) of the Year Award to Colonel Carole Farley, MSN, RN, CCNS, CCRN, Critical Care Master Clinician/Clinical Nurse Specialist with the 96th Medical Group of the U.S. Air Force at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Award recognizes an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement in all aspects of CNS practice. It is presented each year to a nurse who demonstrates CNS competencies and exemplary practice in patient care, nursing and health care delivery systems.
- CNS Educator of the Year Award to Terri Ares, PhD, RNC-NIC, CNS-BC, Lecturer and CNS Program Advisor at California State University, Dominguez Hills. The Award recognizes an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a CNS educator. It acknowledges the recipient’s excellence and innovation in preparing CNSs and in implementing the NACNS Statement on CNS Practice and Education.
- CNS Preceptor of the Year Award to Courtenay Wannamaker, MSN, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, PCCN, CNS at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. The Award recognizes an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a CNS Preceptor, and for demonstrating commitment to teach, coach and mentor CNS students to achieve CNS competencies.
- NACNS Affiliate of Year to the Wisconsin Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.