Excellence in Clinical Practice Award

Dennis Baker, BSN, RUN, has 15 years of nursing experience and has been the unit educator for more than 10 years at Atlantic Health in New Jersey. He is an integral educational and communication resource for staff and students, participating in vital initiatives and ensuring national guidelines and practices are used day in and day out. In addition to his current role at Atlantic Health, Baker was chair of the Hospital Unit Educator Committee, led the Hospital Shared Governance Council, chaired the Unit-Based Shared Governance Council, and was the winner of the 2007 Atlantic Health Systems Neuroscience Nurse of the Year Award.

Excellence in Advanced Practice Award

Joanne Turner, MSN, RN, CNRN, is a clinical nurse specialist at Atlantic Health in New Jersey, and has been a critical care nurse for 30 years. A contributor to numerous publications of evidence-based literature, she is an expert in the clinical management of neurologically challenged patients, and is a committed proponent of patient advocacy. She is also highly active outside her "office" as a participant in her local AANN chapters, and is the founder of Caring Network Volunteer Services, a nonprofit corporation that recycles surplus medical, office, and dental supplies and equipment, which are used in mobile medical units that provide vital care and health education to remote South American villages.

Excellence in Neuroscience Education Award

Diane Masciangelo, BSN, RN, CNRN, is a clinical educator in the neurocritical care unit, brain and stroke unit, and epilepsy monitoring unit at OhioHealth in Columbus, OH. With more than 20 years of experience, she performs a myriad of roles, ranging from staff development and clinical instructor to continuing education team developer and mentor. She collaborates with all medical and behavioral health contributors to ensure the best comprehensive care is given to each patient and family and approaches education as a transformation of opportunity into value. When asked, her colleagues attested that "she has always performed to a standard of excellence that many would be hard pressed to match." They also stated, "She is not merely a good, or even excellent, teacher...she is phenomenal."

Rising Star in Clinical Practice Award

Kristine Machingo, RN, RDMS, works as a trauma response nurse in Mission Viejo, CA. She is cochair of the Neuro ICU Education Council and was recently recommended to the trauma response team, a role ordinarily reserved for nurses with 3-5 years experience. Prior to her success in nursing, Machingo was an ultrasound technician for 14 years and an X-ray technician for 17 years. A charismatic leader and motivational teacher, her colleagues consider her "an exceptional nurse and leader; a beacon of light whose patients and their families benefit from her presence, skill, compassion, and expertise."

Outstanding Chapter of the Year

In the past 12 months, the 1-year-old Mid-South Chapter grew its membership by 30, offered nearly 12 hours of valuable continuing education credits, and held 8 educational and planning meetings. It promoted and endorsed Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) credentialing (a mark of high educational distinction in neuroscience nursing) and held a Community Stroke Awareness Night, educating 125 community and healthcare members on imperative stroke-related maneuvers and prevention techniques.  Among the chapter's many accomplishments, one of the most telling is its commitment to the field. "We have accomplished many things this last year," a chapter spokesperson said, "but the most important is helping light a passion for neuroscience education."