NGNA News
Article Outline
- NGNA Announces Its 2005 Award Recipients
- NGNA Elects New Members to the Board of Directors
- NGNA Annual Meeting Abstracts: New Feature
NGNA Announces Its 2005 Award Recipients
The 2005 NGNA Award and Scholarship recipients were recognized on Saturday, October 22, 2005, at the Gala Event during the NGNA Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The evening began with a reception and dinner and culminated with an awards ceremony to recognize the 2005 recipients.
2005 NGNA Board of Directors Lifetime Achievement Award
Marilyn Rantz, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Missouri—Columbia. Dr. Rantz’s accomplishments include scholarly research and publications about developing and implementing quality improvement programs to advance care for nursing home residents. Her work has shown what can be accomplished through partnerships between academic nursing and long-term care institutions. Moreover, her endeavors and the significant outcomes of the work she does have demonstrated the importance of the “frontline” workers of nursing home care—the nursing staff at all care levels.
Dr. Rantz and her research team at Columbia have been recognized by Secretary Tommy Thompson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the innovative technology they are evaluating to address the complex issues in nursing home care. The Quality Improvement Program for Missouri that was initiated by Dr. Rantz and her outstanding nursing project team received the 2004 Research Utilization Award of Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Rantz was nominated by NGNA secretary, Victoria Schirm, PhD, RN, CS.
Distinguished Service
Virginia Burggraf, DNS, RN, FNGNA, FAAN, is the Marcella J. Griggs Distinguished Professor in Gerontology at Radford University School of Nursing, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, Radford, Virginia. Dr. Burggraf has been a member of NGNA from its inception. She is a former 2-term secretary of NGNA and continues to be active in the organization by working with the clinical practice committee to write and publish Innovations in Clinical Practice papers (ICPs).
Her scholarly pursuits and research involve caregiver health and social support in rural community dwelling older adults and telehealth. She is widely published and serves on the editorial review boards of the Journal of Gerontological Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, Applied Gerontology, and Nursing Outlook. One can read her monthly column, “Ginger Says”, in the Senior News. Dr. Burggraf was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2003 for her laudable career, publications, and research. Virginia was nominated by Robin Remsburg and Neva Crogan.
Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Award
Karen Larrimore, MSN, RN, APRN, is the recipient of the 2005 Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Award—APRN. Karen is employed at the Masonic Home of New Jersey and is a member of the Central Jersey Chapter of NGNA, the New Jersey League for Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International. She has been a member of the NGNA Nominating Committee, the chair of the Fundraising and Marketing Committee for the Central Jersey Chapter of NGNA, president of NSNA, member of the Thomas Jefferson Academic Affairs Committee, and a member of numerous committees and activities at the Masonic Home. Karen was nominated by Cindy Shemansky, MEd, RNC, LNHA, FNGNA, who states, “Karen is a shining example of an advanced practice nurse, whose work in our field can be described as outstanding; her work ethic, a model for coworkers and subordinates to aspire to; and her ability to meet each patient’s individual needs, a lesson to strive for.”
Lynn Rodgers, RNC, is the recipient of the 2005 Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Award—RN. Lynn is employed at the Masonic Home of New Jersey and is a member of the Central Jersey Chapter of NGNA. Lynn has served as a member of the Pain Management Task Force Committee of the Masonic Home, worked on the Preceptor Program, and has been a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team. Lynn was nominated by Gail Sheridan, RNC, and Judy Wood, RNC, who state, “Lynn has an exceptional ability to adjust to new work, grasping and implementing novel ideas quickly.”
Fleta Krebs, LPN, is the recipient of the 2005 Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Award—LPN. Fleta is employed at the Masonic Home of New Jersey and is a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team Committee and the Falls Committee, past preceptor of the Family Support Group, and a member of the Alzheimer’s Association. Fleta was nominated by Karen Larrimore, MSN, RN, who states, “As her supervisor, I have admired Fleta’s caring perseverance and professionalism in performing her nursing responsibilities.”
Joel White, CNA, is the recipient of the 2005 Excellence in Gerontological Nursing Award—CNA. Joel is employed at the Masonic Home of New Jersey and is a member of the Central Jersey Chapter of NGNA. Joel is a member of the Guardian Angel Program, past member of the Preceptor Program, and past member of the Falls Prevention Committee. Joel was nominated by Kathleen Keller, RNC, who states, “Joel is always ready to go the ‘extra mile’ for his residents.”
Cindy Shemansky Travel Scholarship
Judy Clem, RNC, has been a member of NGNA for 6 years and is a member of her local chapter. Judy is a staff development coordinator at Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Judy promotes NGNA membership by posting information on seminars, sharing news about the organization, and inviting nurses and interdisciplinary staff to chapter meetings.
Congratulations to all of the 2005 NGNA Award recipients.
NGNA Elects New Members to the Board of Directors
The NGNA Board of Directors is happy to announce that member participation in the 2005 election was at an all time high. Congratulations to the following newly elected members to the board: M. Kay Cresci, PhD, APRN, BC, CCRN, FNGNA, treasurer; Victoria Schirm, PhD, RN, secretary; Susan L. Carlson, RN, CNS, GNP, director-at-large; Barbara Wharton McCabe, PhD, APRN, BC, FNGNA, director-at-large; Shu-li Chen, PhD, RN, nominating committee member; and Janice D. Crist, PhD, RN, nominating committee member.
The NGNA Board of Directors welcomes these new members to the board and would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Anita Siccardi, EdD, APRN, BC, outgoing director-at-large, and Neva L. Crogan, PhD, APRN, BC, FNGNA, outgoing vice-president, for their enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work over the past 2 years. Thanks for serving the organization in such an important and lasting way.
NGNA Annual Meeting Abstracts: New Feature
Over the past several years we have featured research and clinical abstracts from NGNA’s annual meeting. This year the format for the abstracts changed to allow us to publish all of the submitted abstracts in the NGNA section. We begin this annual feature with research abstracts. By publishing these abstracts in GN, we not only recognize the outstanding research NGNA members are accomplishing but also share important findings with gerontological nurses who can use them to improve the quality of clinical care they provide to their patients.
Each year the NGNA Research Committee selects the most promising research abstracts to compete for the prestigious Judith V. Braun Research Award. We are pleased to highlight this year’s finalists for the research award, Lenny Chiang-Hanisko, PhD, RN, from Kent State University; Patricia Coleman, PhD, APRN, BC, from the University of Rochester; and Jean Gaines, PHD, RN, from the Erickson Foundation. Congratulations to all of the finalists. The winner of the 2005 Judith V. Braun Research Award was Patricia Coleman.
PII: S0197-4572(05)00366-6
doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2005.09.007
