Let's Get Certified Campaign Awards

The Let's Get Certified! Campaign offers guidance and resources to support facility efforts in increasing the number of nurses with certification. Materials are made available for facilities to participate in VA Nursing's Let's Get Certified! Campaign. Achievements of each year’s winners are recognized in multiple venues. In addition, nursing service at each facility receives an award for Magnet/shared governance activities.  All submissions described creative and valuable programs or initiatives led by VHA nurses to promote and increase specialty certification. Entries submitted by facilities were of two award types for which prizes were given. In 2008 during the inaugural year of the campaign, ONS decided to grant a special Participation Award to all other sites that submitted entries in recognition of their efforts to advance certification achievements. (VA staff campaign materials can be found on intranet website.)

2012 ONS Certification Awards Recipients

Achievement Award - Gold

  Hines VAMC; Carol Gouty, PhD, RN, NE-BC, VHA-CM; Associate Director, Patient Care/Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Silver

  Madison VAMC [William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital]; Rebecca Kordahl, RN, MBA, NEA-BC; Associate Director, Patient Care/Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Bronze

  Providence VAMC; Deborah A. Clickner, DNP, RN, NE-BC; Associate Director, Patient Care/Nursing Services

2011 ONS Certification Awards Recipients

Development Award 

 James A. Haley VA Medical Center: Laureen Doloresco, MN, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Director, Patient Care / Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Gold

 Orlando VA Medical Center: Kathleen L. Cole, RN, BSN, MS, CNAA, Associate Director, Patient Care / Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Silver

 VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System: Ira Richmond, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Director, Patient Care / Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Bronze

 Northern California VA Healthcare System:  Donna Iatarola, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Director, Patient Care / Nursing Services

2010 ONS Certification Awards Recipients

Development Award 

 Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System: Marlene Brewster, RN, MSN, Acting Associate Director, Nursing and Patient Care Services

Achievement Award - Gold

 James A. Haley (Tampa) VAMC: Laureen Doloresco, MN, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Director, Patient Care / Nursing Services

Achievement Award - Silver

 New Jersey Healthcare System (East Orange): Patrick J. Troy, R.N., Nurse Executive

Achievement Award - Bronze

 Orlando VAMC:  Kathleen L. Cole, RN, BSN, MS, CNAA, Associate Director for Patient Services

2009 ONS Certification Awards Recipients

Development Award 

 Bay Pines VA HCS: Teresa Kumar, MSN, RN, Associate Director of Patient and Nursing Services

 Shreveport VAMC: Beverly Rashad, RN, Nurse Executive

Achievement Award - Gold

 Portland VAMC: Kathleen Chapman, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, Nurse Executive

Achievement Award - Silver

 Greater Los Angeles (GLA) HCS: Marlene Brewster, RN, MSN, Nurse Executive 

Participation Award