Nebraska Action Coalition (NAC)-Future of Nursing’s third bi-annual award for emerging nurse leaders provides needed recognition of young nurses across the state. These nurse leaders, all under the age of 40, are the future of nursing, health and health care in Nebraska.
The 12 nurses recognized with the 40 Under 40 Award include:
From UNMC:
- Melissa Snyder
- Sara Brown
- Kelly Gonzales, Ph.D.
- Amy Ford, D.N.P
From Nebraska Medicine:
- Angela Vasa
- Michaela Burke
- Carli Zegers
- Nicole Turille
- Erik Borgmeyer
- Stacie Ethington
- Jenny Pazdeurka
From Clarkson College:
- Amberly Wagner-Connolly, D.N.P.
These 12 nurses were recognized for their unique contributions to leadership within the nursing profession through: clinical practice, education and teaching, administrative leadership, research, writing/publishing, policy involvement/self-governance, mentoring, and/or health care innovation.
“It is exciting to see so many (med center) nurses who are being honored by the 40 under 40 award,” says Sue Nuss, Ph.D., chief nursing officer. “We have had previous 40 under 40 award recipients who have become resilient nursing leaders. I anticipate several of this year’s recipients will lead Nebraska Medicine nurses into the future.”
This leadership award aligns with the nationwide Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action initiative to transform health care and build a healthier America.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and AARP, champions of this initiative along with 51 State Action Coalitions, recognize that the increasing complexity of health care requires the unique perspective of the nation’s largest (3.4 million) and most trusted health care profession (Gallup 2015). Health care organizations, communities, businesses, schools, and political organizations achieve more when nurses have a voice in the decision-making process.
A reception to honor these award recipients will be held Sept. 16 at Union College in Lincoln.