NLN Recognizes Two Outstanding Nurse Educators in Second Annual Constituent League Awards Competition

Nurse Educators in Louisiana Establish Affiliated League for Nursing Expanding NLNs National Network of Regional Constituent Leagues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — October 20, 2009 — In a dual announcement, the National League for Nursing named the recipients of its second annual Constituent League Awards, and the expansion of its affiliate network with the addition of the Louisiana League for Nursing (LLN). The two awards, one for Outstanding Leadership and the other for Innovative and Effective Membership Recruitment, were presented at the Constituent League Leadership workshops held prior to NLNs 2009 Education Summit, a four-day gathering of nurse educators, administrators, and executives of related health care institutions held last month in Philadelphia.

The Missouri League for Nursings Susan Devaney, EdD, APRN BC, is the winner of the 2009 Outstanding Leadership Award. She was lauded for her contributions to the overall success and sustainability of the Missouri League for Nursing, as well as long, continuous support of the NLN. Dr. Devaneys creative ideas and grant-writing, which resulted in the development of a Leadership Council, exemplify her commitment to the league. Additionally, she has served the MLN in many capacities, including two terms as president and president-elect and on numerous committees. Valued as a colleague who provides sound advice and direction to current board leadership, Dr. Devaney was also generous with her time to mentor new board members.

Margaret (Peggy) OConnor, MS, RN, of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island League for Nursing and an assistant clinical professor at Lawrence Memorial/Regis College in Medford, MA, an NLN Center of Excellence school, took home the 2009 Innovative and Effective Membership Award. Hard-working and organized, Ms. OConnor took the helm at the MARILN at a time when it was facing some leadership challenges. Membership was stagnant, and she was instrumental in implementing several membership initiatives — the creation of a Membership Committee and including board members in membership recruitment, for example — that resulted in that leagues 65 percent growth under her tenure.

"I am proud of these two outstanding nurse educators, both of whom have made such a difference in increasing participation in their respective constituent leagues and in helping bring home the important work of the NLN," said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN in congratulating the award-winners. "Difficult as the selection process is for these coveted awards, Peggy and Susan stood out for their dedication, vision, and commitment. We applaud them, and we thank them."

Bringing to 22 the number of active constituent leagues around the US, the Louisiana League for Nursing is the latest group of state-based nurse educators to join forces to support the mission of the NLN.

"We are delighted to welcome this new league into the NLN fold and look forward to raising our profile in the state of Louisiana, thanks to the visionary nurse educators there who have taken the lead in organizing the group, demonstrating their commitment to the NLNs core mission and values," noted NLN president Dr. Cathleen Shultz. "We also look forward to working together as it creates programs and services to strengthen Louisianas community of nurse educators."

The LLN board consists of 12 leading nurse educators recruited from schools of nursing across the state and headed by an experienced slate of officers. Melanie Green, dean of nursing at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, will serve as LLNs first president. The other officers are: Lenetra Jefferson, assistant professor of nursing at Dillard University in New Orleans, (vice president); Jennifer Beck, associate dean of nursing at OLOL College, (secretary); and Demetrius Porche, dean of the School of Nursing at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, (treasurer).

Constituent leagues operate under the umbrella of the NLNs Constituent Organization Advisory Council, promoting excellence in nursing education to create a strong and diverse nursing workforce through statewide, regional, and local conferences, advocacy, and other professional activities that address issues of particular interest to nurse educators in their respective geographic locales.

Nurse educators: If there is no constituent league in your area and you have an interested group of nurse educators, please contact Tish Hess, director, membership and excellence initiatives at 212-812-0374; thess@nln.org.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer of the NLN, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

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 services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 30,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.