NCSBN Award Ceremony to Honor Outstanding Nurse Regulators

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - May 15, 2009) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®) (www.ncsbn.org) will recognize its dedicated and exceptional membership and guests at its annual awards ceremony during the NCSBN Delegate Assembly, to be held in Philadelphia, Aug. 12 -14, 2009.

Specific award recipients include:

Faith Fields, MSN, RN, executive director, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, will be honored with the prestigious R. Louise McManus Award. Individuals receiving this award have made sustained and lasting significant contributions through their deep commitment and dedication to the purposes and mission of NCSBN.

Sheila Exstrom, PhD, RN, nursing education consultant, Nebraska Board of Nursing, will receive the Meritorious Service Award, which is granted to a board or staff member of a member board for positive impact and significant contributions to the purposes of NCSBN.

Nancy Murphy, MS, RN, BC, CPM, education consultant, South Carolina State Board of Nursing, will receive the Exceptional Contribution Award, which is awarded for significant contribution by a board of nursing staff member who does not serve as an executive officer or a board member who is not the current board president.

The Ohio Board of Nursing will be awarded the Regulatory Achievement Award that recognizes the member board that has made an identifiable, significant contribution to the purpose of NCSBN in promoting public policy related to the safe and effective practice of nursing in the interest of public welfare.

In addition, service awards will be given to the following executive officers of boards of nursing:

Five Years
George J. Hebert, MA, RN, executive director, New Jersey Board of Nursing

Ten Years
N. Genell Lee, JD, MSN, RN, executive officer, Alabama Board of Nursing
Mary Blubaugh, MSN, RN, executive administrator, Kansas State Board of
 Nursing
Shirley Brekken, MS, RN, executive director, Minnesota Board of Nursing
Kimberly Glazier, MEd, RN, executive director, Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Fifteen Years
Teresa Bello-Jones, JD, MSN, RN, executive officer, Bureau of Vocational
 Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

The following boards of nursing are celebrating 100 years of nursing
regulation in 2009:

Delaware Board of Nursing
Michigan/DCH/Bureau of Health Professions
Missouri State Board of Nursing
Nebraska Board of Nursing
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
Texas Board of Nursing
Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
Wyoming State Board of Nursing

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia is an associate member.

Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277

Contact Information: Contact: Dawn M. Kappel Director, Marketing and Communications 312.525.3667 direct 312.279.1034 fax