The Emergency Nurse Association (ENA) named longtime emergency nurse and educator Cam Brandt, MS, RN, CEN, CPEN, the recipient of the 2023 Judith C. Kelleher Award, the ENA’s most prestigious honor.
Driven by a passion for caring for children, as well as teaching and mentoring ED nurses, Brandt’s impact could be felt in the emergency departments where she worked and across the emergency nursing community through continual contributions as an ENA leader in Texas and key volunteer with many of the association’s committees – most notably as part of the team that develops the cornerstone Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course.
“The ED and education are where it’s at for me,” says Brandt of Keller, Texas. “I’m just a basic nurse who loved sharing my passion for education and whatever my passion in pediatric emergency care was at the time. This award is surreal. I never would have dreamed of where I am today.”
ENA President Terry Foster, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CCRN, TCRN, FAEN, praised Brandt for her contributions to ENA and the entire emergency nursing community.
“Cam is the epitome of an emergency nurse: fierce, loyal, knowledgeable, persistent, driven and yet very caring,” Foster says. “Her dedication and many years of direct emergency nursing experience speak volumes. She is a role model for many of our ENA members.”
The ENA also announced the recipients of 12 other individual awards, including the annual State Council Achievement Awards and the Team Award.
Foster congratulated this year’s recipients for their inspirational work amid the numerous challenges faced by emergency nurses today.
“It never ceases to amaze me how impactful ENA members are in their emergency departments and as volunteers with this wonderful organization,” Foster says. “These awards are a reflection of how emergency nurses live ENA’s mission every day.”
The 2023 ENA award recipients and other honorees will be recognized during Emergency Nursing 2023 in San Diego on Sept. 21-23.
Here is a complete list of this year’s ENA award winners.
- Barbara A. Foley Quality, Safety and Injury Prevention Award: Delfa Soto, MSN, RN, CEN, of California
- Behind the Scenes Award: Vicki Sweet, MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN, of California
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives of the Year Award (Individual): Anna Valdez, PhD, RN, CEN, FAEN, of California
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives of the Year Award (State Council): Texas ENA State Council
- Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award: David T. House, DNP, RN, CEN, of Texas
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Ellen Wilson, MS, RN, CEN, FAEN, of Ohio
- Media Award: Gary Kleeblatt, The Middletown Press, Connecticut
- Nurse Manager Award: Hannah Longoria, BSN, RN, CEN, of Texas
- Nursing Competency in Aging Award: Jennifer A. Noble, MSN, RN, CEN, of Texas
- Nursing Education Award: Teri Diloy, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, of Virginia
- Nursing Practice and Professionalism Award: Leslie Hinson, MSN, RN, CEN, of Texas
- Pediatric Readiness Improvement Award: Nancy McGrath, MN, MSN, RN, CPNP, of California
- Rising Star Award: Stephanie Jensen, MSN-L, RN, MICN, of California
- Team Award: Cook Children’s Trauma Nurse Leaders, Texas
In addition to the individual honors, nine states – Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Washington – received 2023 State Council Achievement Awards for their outstanding local efforts last year.
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