Nurse Achievements and Recognition

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, D.N.P., M.S., M.B.A., RN-BC, C.H.S.E, NE-BC, FAAN, Chief Nursing Informatics and Education Officer
• Mary Anne Hilliard, Esq., R.N., CPHRM, FAAN, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
• Linda Talley, M.S., R.N., NE-BC, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer 
• Mary Daymont, M.S.N., R.N., FAAN, Vice President of Revenue Cycle and Care Management
• Suzanne Feetham, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, Research Consultant and long-time employee
• Pamela Hinds, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, Director, Department of Nursing Science, Professional Practice & Quality & Research Integrity Officer
• Ada Sue Hinshaw, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, former Research Board member
• Debbie LaFond, D.N.P., P.P.C.N.P.-B.C., C.P.O.N., C.H.P.P.N., FAAN, former Clinical Director, PANDA Palliative Care Team
• Nellie Robinson, R.N., M.S.N., 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 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.

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

• 15 years celebrating Children’s National nurses with the DAISY Award
• Greater than 4,000 DAISY Award nominations received
• 140 Children’s National nurses recognized as DAISY Nurse Honorees
• 26 Children’s National Nurse Leaders recognized as DAISY Nurse Leader Honorees
• 8 Children’s National DAISY Teams recognized
• 2 DAISY Lifetime Achievement Awards presented

2018 IHI/NPSF DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement in collaboration with the DAISY Foundation, awarded the Surgical Care Unit at Children's National Hospital the Team Award for IHI/NPSF DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This award is given to individuals and/or teams that demonstrate extraordinary compassionate nursing care, elevate a focus on workforce and patient safety and demonstrate clinical excellence.

2015 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, MSN, RN, CNS, CWON, CCRN 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 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 Magnet® Nurse of the Year
Kathy Sheehy, MSN, APRN, PCNS-BC, Certified Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Division of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Kathy 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.

The Beacon Award for Excellence® (Beacon Award) recognizes the nurses within units that distinguish themselves by implementing evidence-based practices to improve patient care and satisfaction. The award is given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Children's National units with a Beacon status are: 

• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - Silver
• Surgical Care Unit - Silver
• 7 East Medical Unit - Silver

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.