Your donation will directly impact the future of our CNS practice and will help contribute to the mission of the CNS Institute; serve to develop and promote the charitable, educational, innovative clinical practice, and scientific goals of NACNS.
Brenda L. Lyon Tribute
Brenda L. Lyon, PhD, RN, FAAN was a Founder and past-President (1996- 1997) of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). She provided seminal leadership by working for statutory recognition of CNSs as advanced practice nurses and publishing numerous articles and book chapters. Her recent book, Haven’t You Suffered Enough: Clinically Proven Methods to Conquer Stress (2020) was the source of a series of NACNS webinars presented by Dr. Lyon earlier this year. She was a recipient of the Indiana University School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award, the first Brenda L. Lyon Excellence in Leadership Award from NACNS, and the Indiana University W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service. She was a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and in the American Academy of Practice-Nursing.
Sadly, Dr. Lyon died on October 21, 2020. CNSI is asking you to kindly consider making a donation as a tribute to Brenda L. Lyon, nurse leader, nurse educator, nurse researcher, and clinical nurse specialist par excellence. To recognize her lifelong outstanding contributions to promote the visibility and value CNSs bring to those who are suffering from complex illnesses.
The Brenda Lyon Data Driving Grant will award up to $1,500 to NACNS members for quality improvement, evidence-based practice, research, outcomes, and program evaluation.
These funds are used annually in order to honor Dr. Lyon’s work and support the activities of CNSs conducting data driven projects.
The Katie Brush Critical Care CNS Scholarship
The Katie Brush Critical Care CNS Scholarship will be presented during the CNS Week in conjunction with the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute starting in 2023.
Katie Brush Critical Care CNS Scholarship fund is named after one of our NACNS board members, and strong CNS advocate, who suddenly passed away in 2007. Kathryn (Katie) Brush served as a critical care clinical nurse specialist for over 10 years at Massachusetts General.
Her commitment to critical care nursing and patient centered care was evident both locally and globally. She traveled to many countries to teach critical care nursing and served in humanitarian relief work through the International Medical Surgical Response Team.
She has many achievements and contributions and most notably included being inducted into the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Of special note, she was the 30th critical care nurse in the world to achieve this distinction.
The Katie Brush Critical Care CNS Scholarship will award up to $2,000 to Critical Care CNS students.
The Theresa Murray Clinical Nurse Specialist Scholarship for Quality & Safety, Clinical Excellence, and Professional Development
Beginning in 2024, the annual Theresa Murray CNS Scholarship will become available to applicants in March and will be presented annually during CNS Week in September.
The Theresa Murray Clinical Nurse Specialist Scholarship for Quality & Safety, Clinical Excellence, and Professional Development was created to honor and remember one of NACNS’s founding members and an NACNS Past President who was beloved and influential to the nursing community. Theresa sadly unexpectedly passed away in early 2023.
Her nursing career included many roles serving as a critical care nurse, critical care CNS and CNS preceptor at Community Hospital Network in Indiana, and independent consultant and educator. She is described as a true ‘nurse’s nurse’ and was a fierce, passionate advocate for the nursing profession to provide the best possible patient care, and safety for both nurses and patients.
Theresa has numerous achievements and contributions including CNS of the Year by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and NACNS.
The Theresa Murray CNS Scholarship for Quality & Safety, Clinical Excellence, and Professional Development will award up to $2,000 to students enrolled in an entry level CNS program or CNSs enrolled in doctoral or post-master’s certificate programs for either academic program expenses or NACNS Annual Conference expenses.
Travel Grants
Starting in 2023, CNSI will support travel grants up to $750 to NACNS members who have presented a podium or poster presentation at local, regional, or national conferences. The work must showcase the CNS role and presented at conferences whose audience is primarily nursing leaders.
How to Donate to the CNS Institute
Monetary Donations and Tributes
Please consider supporting the above initiatives by making a donation and choosing a specific fund, tribute, or general donation by clicking here or mail your donation to:
Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute
Attn: Donation
401 Edgewater Place, Suite 600
Wakefield, MA 01880
Employer Matching Gifts
Many employers will match contributions to non-profits, like the CNS Institute. Most companies will ask you to complete and return a form with the name and contact information for the non-profit and often you will need the CNS Institute tax ID number: 81-4345954.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute is the 501(c)3 arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.