Nurse Achievements and Recognition

In 2024, Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, was honored with the 2024 American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Exemplary Leadership Award. The AONL Exemplary Leadership Award recognizes a nurse leader who has made a substantial impact on professional nursing practice and the professional growth of their colleagues. Learn more about the award.

In 2024, Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of nursing research, was honored with the Leonard M. Rosen Memorial Research Award for outstanding contributions to advancing pediatric cancer policy, advocacy and research, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities for advancement surrounding pediatric cancer treatment and experience. Learn more about the award.

In 2024, Diana Hines, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, program manager, nursing professional practice, was recognized with the DNPs of Color Emerging Nurse Leader award. This award recognizes a nurse leader for their leadership, exemplary volunteerism, significant contributions to advancing the nursing profession and demonstrated potential for continued leadership and service to the field. Learn more about the award.

Each year the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) recognizes nurse leaders from all over the world for their outstanding contributions to nursing and health care. Through the years, AAN has named nine Children's National Hospital nurses as academy fellows.

Children’s National nurses who earned this distinction include:

• Simmy King, DNP, MS, MBA, RN-BC, CHSE, NE-BC, FAAN, Chief Nursing Informatics and Education Officer
• Mary Anne Hilliard, Esq., RN, CPHRM, FAAN, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
• Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, former Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer 
• Mary Daymont, MSN, RN, FAAN, Vice President of Revenue Cycle and Care Management
• Suzanne Feetham, PhD, RN, FAAN, Research Consultant and long-time employee
• Pamela Hinds, RN, PhD, FAAN, Director, Department of Nursing Science, Professional Practice & Quality & Research Integrity Officer
• Ada Sue Hinshaw, RN, PhD, FAAN, former Research Board member
• Debbie LaFond, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPON, CHPPN, FAAN, former Clinical Director, PANDA Palliative Care Team
• Nellie Robinson, RN, MSN, FAAN, former Chief Nursing Officer

Simmy King DNP, MS, MBA, NI-BC, NE-BC, CHSE, FAAN, Chief Nursing Informatics and Education Officer

In 2023, the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Practice Transitions Accreditation Program (PTAP) named King the 2023 PTAP Program Director of the Year for her dedication and commitment to elevating the transition to practice for new graduate registered nurses. Read the announcement.

The Bedside Nursing Excellence Award recognizes clinical pediatric intensive care nurses who go above and beyond in the provision of outstanding patient care.

• 2024 Bedside Nursing Excellence Award: Colleen Betzer, BSN, RN, CPN, Clinical Nurse, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
• 2022 Bedside Nursing Excellence Award: Nadia Pendleton, BSN, RN, Shift Coordinator, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (at the time)

• 2024 Patricia Hickey Award for Excellence in Pediatric Cardiovascular Nursing: Melisa B. Jones, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, Nurse Practitioner and Director of the Neurocardiac Critical Care Program, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
  
   

The DAISY Award^® for Extraordinary Nurses

The DAISY Award^® for Extraordinary Nurses was established by the DAISY Foundation^™ in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 years old of ITP, an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created this national award to say "thank you" to nurses everywhere. 

Greater than 4,000 health care facilities throughout the United States and in 39 other countries honor nurses with the DAISY Award ^®. Learn more about the DAISY Award^®.

Registered and advanced practice nurses can be nominated by patients, families, visitors, volunteers and hospital employees. To nominate a nurse for this award, complete this form: English | Spanish.

Children’s National participates in the following DAISY Award Offerings:

• The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
• The DAISY Team Award
• The DAISY Nurse Leader Award
• The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
• The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators
• The DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
• The DAISY Award for Nursing Ethics

The DAISY Award ^® program at Children's National:

• Over 15 years celebrating Children’s National nurses with the DAISY Award
• Greater than 5,000 DAISY Award nominations received
• More than 175 Children’s National nurses and nurse leaders recognized as DAISY Nurse Honorees
• 10 Children’s National DAISY Teams recognized
• 2 DAISY Lifetime Achievement Awards presented

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety
Annually, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in collaboration with the DAISY Foundation, awards the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety. This award is given to individuals and/or teams that demonstrate extraordinarily compassionate nursing care, elevate a focus on workforce and patient safety and demonstrate clinical excellence.

• 2024 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety: The Nurse Navigator Team
• 2018 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety: The Surgical Care Unit
  
   

2025 ANCC Magnet® Nurse of the Year

• Joy Thornton, BSN, RN, CPN, Children's National Hospital, Division of Urology
• In 2025, the American Nurses Credentialing Center named Joy Thornton, clinical program coordinator for the Division of Urology, one of its five 2025 National Magnet Nurses of the Year. Joy's nomination was selected for the Magnet® Model Component Exemplary Professional Practice. Joy was nominated for this award because of her transformative impact on clinical efficiency and improving patient access to care. She led efforts to redesign workflows, reassess staff utilization and expand clinic services to underserved areas, resulting in a 130 percent increase in patient access to appointments. Not only did these improvements increase access to care, they also directly contributed to higher patient experience scores across multiple areas—all within just three months of implementation.

2015 ANCC Magnet® Nurse of the Year

• June K. Amling, MSN, RN, CNS, CWON, CCRN, Children's National Hospital, Division of Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Wound Outpatient Clinic
• In 2015, the American Nurses Credentialing Center named Children’s National advanced practice nurse June Amling one of its five 2015 National Magnet Nurses of the Year. June's nomination was selected for the Magnet® Model Component, Empirical Outcomes. June has served in a variety of roles at Children’s National and is a nationally-recognized expert in pediatric wound care. She founded the Children’s National Skin and Wound Team which successfully reduced pressure ulcers from eight percent to less than 0.35 percent across 13 inpatient units, well below national benchmarks.

2013 ANCC Magnet® Nurse of the Year

• Elizabeth Bradshaw-Mikula, MSN, RN, CPN, Children's National Hospital, Heart Institute
• Elizabeth’s nomination was selected for the Magnet^® Model Component, Empirical Outcomes. Elizabeth's innovative nursing practice has improved outcomes for newborns with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) across the globe. She conceived and led groundbreaking research demonstrating the feasibility of newborn screening for CCHD in the community hospital setting. She went on to develop a screening toolkit, which has been distributed to 1,140 healthcare organizations worldwide, and an educational website, which has received more than 5,000 visits. These materials led Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to recommend universal CCHD screening and so far, 32 states have passed legislation. Four countries are conducting CCHD screenings, and many more are considering implementation.

2012 ANCC Magnet® Nurse of the Year

• Kathy Sheehy, MSN, APRN, PCNS-BC, Children's National Hospital, Division of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
• Kathy, certified pediatric clinical nurse specialist, was nominated and selected for the category of New Knowledge, Innovations & Improvements, for her work in developing a new protocol for the safe use of dexmedetomidine outside the critical-care setting.

In 2021 and 2020, two Children’s National nurses, each year, were recognized with the Nightingale Award from the Washington Post. This award recognizes those nurses in the DMV that have a common focus in the provision of the highest quality nursing care and that is compassion.

2021 Washington Post Star Nurse - Nightingale Award Winners

• Vicki Freedenberg, PhD, RN, CCDS
• Priscilla Powell, BSN, RN, CPN, CPHON

2020 Washington Post Star Nurse - Nightingale Award Winners

• Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Viktoria Holley-Trimmer, MS, RN

In 2021, four Children’s National nurses received the Washingtonian magazine Excellence in Nursing Award. This award honors local nurses who go above and beyond to support the highest level of patient and family centered care for all.

• Kim Gerland, BSN, RN, CPN, CCRN
• Mourine Evans, MS, RN
• Jeanne Ricks, MSN, RN, NE-BC
• Mary Santerre, MSN, RN, CPN

Read more about the 2021 awardees.