NLN to Recognize Outstanding Nurse Educators at President's Reception and Banquet

NLN Awards and Academy of Nursing Education Fellows Induction to Cap Education Summit 2009 in Philadelphia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — September 16, 2009 — The National League for Nursing Awards/Academy of Nursing Education Fellows Induction Ceremony is an annual highlight of the NLNs Education Summit. Set for the evening of Saturday, September 26, it will conclude the four-day gathering of nurse educators and administrators at the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia. Opening and concluding remarks will be offered by the NLNs newly installed president Cathleen M. Shultz, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN.

The awards to be presented are:

The NLN Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes the contributions of an outstanding nurse educator who fosters excellence in the teaching-learning process; is a scholar in her/his area of expertise…; inspires and motivates students to a high level of competence and to the pursuit of new knowledge…; implements learner-centered approaches to education that support active student involvement in their own learning…; fosters in students an attitude of professional commitment to meeting the health needs of the people…; and promotes independent functioning and self-direction of students.

Anne E. Belcher, PhD, RN, AOCN, CNE, FAAN, ANEF
Associate Professor and Director of the Office for Teaching Excellence, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD

Anne Belcher has dedicated her life to enhancing student learning across the continuum of higher education. At Johns Hopkins, she guides students in becoming oncology clinical nurse specialists, following in her own footsteps as a certified advanced oncology nurse. Dr. Belchers contributions to the teaching-learning process include the development of innovative curricula; the creation and testing of education models in oncology, for example, a masters in teaching for oncology she implemented during her joint appointment at Columbia University School of Nursing and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York; and her leadership of interdisciplinary teams that have led to cutting-edge oncology research and pedagogy.

The NLN Award for Excellence in Nursing Education Research recognizes a nurse scholar who has made significant contributions to nursing education knowledge through nursing education research in a variety of settings; influences scholarly development of nursing knowledge through creative approaches to nursing education…; influences the evolution of nursing education through visionary and innovative approaches to evidence-based practice…; conducts and communicates distinguished research in nursing education…; advances knowledge through theory development…; and publishes scholarly works that advance nursing education knowledge.

Pamela M. Ironside, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Research in Nursing Education, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis

Using a multi-method, multi-site investigative model that has become one of her trademarks, Pam Ironside is known as a pioneer in the science of nursing education. As nurse educators increasingly seek evidence-based answers to queries about what teaching-learning strategies work best, Dr. Ironsides research has been critical to the evolving knowledge in the field. Her findings have been widely disseminated through publications, presentations, workshops, and web-based resources. Teaching clinical competencies was the focus of Dr. Ironsides recently completed survey for the NLN on clinical education. In addition, she has piloted numerous programs in nursing schools across the US, assisting colleagues with their research and helping to expand their pedagogical literacy.

Marilyn H. Oermann, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEFProfessor and Chair of Adult and Geriatric Health, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

For nearly 35 years, Marilyn Oermann has been in the forefront of scholarship in nursing education, influencing the way generations of nurse educators evaluate student learning in clinical settings and improving assessment practices in nursing programs that advance excellence in nursing education. Most recently, through a grant from the Duke University-Fuld Foundation, Dr. Oermann led a team in the study of performance, satisfaction, and transition into practice of graduates of accelerated nursing programs. She also examined student perceptions of their clinical experiences in associate degree and baccalaureate programs. In addition to her research activities, Dr. Oermann often travels internationally to help nurse educators throughout the world understand the importance of evidence-based practice as a guide in teaching.

Twenty-one new fellows named in June will be inducted into the Academy of Nursing Education in a ceremony moderated by Elizabeth Speakman, EdD, RN, CDE, ANEF. This third class of fellows represents 20 schools of nursing throughout the United States and joins the 65 individuals who have been previously selected for this competitive honor since the NLN established the academy in 2007. Its mission is to foster excellence in nursing education by recognizing and capitalizing on the wisdom of outstanding individuals who have made enduring and substantial contributions to the field.

Fellows provide visionary leadership in nursing education, in the academy, and in the National League for Nursing. These inspiring leaders are lauded for innovative teaching and learning strategies, nursing education research, faculty development, academic leadership, promotion of public policy that advances nursing education, and collaborative educational practice with community partners. They have contributed above and beyond the responsibilities associated with their employment, made contributions to nursing education that have been broad in scope and not limited to their own classrooms or schools, and disseminated their work in ways that have influenced and advanced nursing education.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, if you would like to receive a complete Summit schedule, a program book containing all abstracts, or if you would like to attend, please contact NLN chief communications officer Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376, kklestzick@nln.org.

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Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 30,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.