Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will bestow the 2015 Circle of Excellence Award on 25 nurses nationwide at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, San Diego, May 18-21.

These outstanding caregivers, from 15 states, receive this coveted award for achieving excellent outcomes in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Criteria used to evaluate Circle of Excellence award candidates include relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; meaningful recognition of others; ability to transform thinking, structures and processes; and ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results through leadership.

Following is a list of recipients, in alphabetical order by state and last name.

CaliforniaNancy T. Blake, RN, PHD, CCRN, NEA-BC, FAANDirector of Nursing, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Flerida Imperial-Perez, RN, MSN, CNS-BC, CCNS-PClinical Manager, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Laura Raichle, RN, BSNHead Nurse, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale

ConnecticutNoreen Gorero, RN, BSN, MAManager, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven

DelawareElisabeth G. Bradley, MS, APN, AGPCNP-BC, ACNS-BCClinical Leader, Christiana Care Health System, Newark

HawaiiEileen D.U. Wong, RN, BSN, CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALSStaff Nurse, The Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu

Illinois Hillary S. Crumlett, RN, MS, ANLDirector - Critical Care Services, Central DuPage Hospital, Cadence Health, Winfield

Jessica Schneiderman, RN, MSN, APN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CPPSClinical Nurse Specialist, FHN Memorial Hospital, Freeport

IndianaJennifer Dunscomb, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNSDirector of Nursing Practice & Quality, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis

MarylandKathryn T. VonRueden, RN, MS, ACNS-BC, FCCMAssociate Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, and Clinical Nurse Specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore

NevadaAmy S. McCombs, RN, BSN, CCRN, CNMLDirector of Nursing Critical Care/Telemetry, Renown Regional Medical Center, Reno

New YorkEileen T. Fitzgerald, RN, MN, CCRNStaff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Preceptor, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York

William Rosa, MS, RN, LMT, AHN-BC, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN-CMC, Caritas CoachNurse Educator, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York

North CarolinaJill Engel, RN, DNP, FNP, ANP, ACNP, CCRN-CSCAssociate Chief Nursing Officer, Duke University Hospital, Durham

Mary Lindsay, RN, MSN, CCRNDirector - Clinical Operations CT Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham

Elizabeth K. Tresohlavy, RN, BSN, CCRN, ACLS, BLS, PALS, SCRNStaff Nurse III, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte

Laura E. Yau, RN, BSN, CCRN, SCRNStaff Nurse III, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte

PennsylvaniaJacqueline Marie Gordon, RN, MSN, CNS, CCNS, CCRNClinical Nurse Specialist, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey

Margaret A. Lattanzio, RN, MSN, CCRN, ACLS, BLSProgrammatic Nurse Specialist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Passavant, Pittsburgh

Darlene A. Lovasik, RN, MN, CCRNProgrammatic Nurse Specialist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Presbyterian, Pittsburgh

South CarolinaLeah Ramos, RN, MSN, CCRN-K, NE-BCNurse Manager, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

TexasGlenn I. Dennis, RN, MSN, ACNS-BCDirector - Critical Care Services, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital

Shelley K. Welch, RN, MSN, CCRN-CSCStaff Development Educator, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, Tyler

WashingtonKelly King, RN, MSN, CCRNAssistant Nurse Manager, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle

WisconsinMary Kay Feeney, RN, MN, CCRN(A), FLMIRetired, West Allis

AACN’s Circle of Excellence awards align with the association’s mission of creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Awardees receive a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium and become members of the Circle of Excellence Society. For more information, visit aacn.org/COE2015.

About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme