On October 29, 2016, Duke Nursing announced its 2016 Friends of Nursing Excellence Award recipients during its annual Gala. The recipients from the DHIP include:
- McKenzie Daniel, BSN, RN, Ambulatory Care Lead at Duke Health Center at Roxboro Street
- Karen Zelaya, LPN, CPST, Medication Licensed Practical Nurse at Duke Health Center at Roxboro Street
- Cheryl Brewer, PhD, MSN, RN, Associate Vice President of Nursing, DHIP
(Photos in order left to right, top to bottom: McKenzie Daniel BSN, RN; Karen Zelaya, LPN, CPST; Cheryl Brewer, PhD, MSN, RN)
"Both Karen and McKenzie strive for greatness in all they do -- from leading their teams to serving as an advocate for their patients," said Sherri Woody, Health Center Administrator of the Duke Health Center at Roxboro Street. "McKenzie inspires her team with her positive and forward thinking attitude, while Karen sets high goals and works tirelessly to help her the team achieve them. I think that Val Saintbury said it best: 'These two nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring. all without a prescription pad!'"
Brewer's nomination for Excellence in Nursing Leadership award was supported by 41 nurse leaders from the DHIP.
"We are extremely proud of Cheryl for her work to inspire, advance and enhance nursing within our DHIP clinics," said Paul Newman, Senior Vice President of the Duke Health Integrated Practice. "Cheryl's leadership to establish a clinical ladder for CMAs is but one example of her leadership and dedication to ensuring our clinic staff are positioned to provide the best care to our patients every day."
The Friends of Nursing program was first established in 1998, and is one of the greatest honors a Duke nurse can receive. Each year, more than 100 nurses are nominated for the award. This year, 238 nominations were submitted and 36 winners were selected Duke-wide, of which, three were DHIP nurses. Award recipients receive a gold pin, an engraved trophy, and a $1,000 educational scholarship that enables the recipients to pursue new career development opportunities to further strengthen their professional skills. Winners are also formally recognized at the annual gala, sponsored by Friends of Nursing—an event specifically held to honor all Duke nurses for the excellent care they provide daily to patients and their families.
Since its inception, the Friends of Nursing has supported the careers and professional development of more than 1,000 Duke nurses by recognizing their accomplishments, advancing professional development, and furthering education. Friends of Nursing
For more information on the Friends of Nursing, the annual Gala, and Excellence Awards, please visit http://www.dukenursing.org/programs/friends-of-nursing.
