At its annual conference in Florida last month, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) presented its first-ever CNS Evidence-Based Practice/Quality Improvement of the Year Award to Maureen Seckel, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCNS, CCRN, FCCM. This prestigious award recognizes an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who has implemented evidence-based practice and provided quality improvement changes that have significantly impacted nursing practice, patient and family outcomes, and/or health care systems, including reducing cost.
“I am delighted to present the very first Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Evidence Based Practice/Quality Improvement of the Year Award to Maureen Seckel,” said NACNS Immediate Past President Anne E. Hysong, MSN, APRN, CCNS, ACNS-BC. “Seckel is an expert in critical care nursing who has more than 20 years’ experience working in the CNS role. She has led numerous initiatives that have transformed care delivery and substantially improved quality and safety in our ever-changing health care arena.”
Seckel is a Board-Certified Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and Acute/Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist. After an extensive career working at the bedside, Maureen transitioned to the Critical Care CNS role at Christiana Care Health System. In 2015, she was named the Lead Critical Care CNS. Seckel actively publishes and presents nationally to share evidence-based practice regarding her sepsis work as well as her work with Ethics, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hypertension, and other CNS issues.
The awards bestowed at the conference were given to:
- The CNS of the Year award was given to Lori Brittingham, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-N of Reading Hospital.
- The Susan B. Davidson Award for extraordinary service to NACNS went to Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN, Director, Nursing Research and Scholarship, Texas Christian University Harris School of Nursing.
- The Brenda Lyon Leadership Award, which recognizes extraordinary leadership in service to NACNS, was given to Lisa Hopp, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Professor, Purdue University Northwest.
- The CNS Educator of the Year Award was bestowed on Susan Dresser, MSN, APRN-CNS, CCRN, director of the Adult-Gerontology CNS Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
- The Researcher of the Year Award was given to Susan B. Fowler, PhD, RN, CNRN, FAHA, Nurse Scientist, Center for Nursing Research at Orlando Health.
- The CNS Evidence Based Practice (EBP) / Quality Improvement (QI) of the Year Award – given for the first time – to Maureen Seckel, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCNS, CCRN, FCCM, who serves in the Critical Care CNS role at Christiana Care Health System.
- The Preceptor of the Year award was given to Patricia Radovich, PhD, CNS, FCCM.
- Affiliate of the Year Award was bestowed on the California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
# # # #
Founded in 1995, The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists is the only association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses who work in a variety of specialties to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in health care settings, CNSs provide direct patient care and lead initiatives to improve care and clinical outcomes, and reduce costs. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, removing certification and regulatory barriers, and assuring the public access to quality CNS services.