On April 29, BCEN was proud to announce our 2026 Distinguished CPEN Award winner:
Solomiya Veturys, MSN, RN, CPEN
Trauma PI & Research Coordinator
Nemours Children’s Hospital
Wilmington, Delaware
What does this award mean to you?
Receiving this award is beyond anything I could have imagined. I became a nurse because my passion in life is helping others. Once I entered the profession, I realized I also had the opportunity to impact other nurses.
My greatest reward has been watching others succeed and accomplish things they once thought were beyond their reach. It is an honor to help shape the culture of the emergency department and support nurses as they achieve their professional goals.
How has holding the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) credential impacted your daily practice and your nursing career path?
I did not fully understand the impact certification could have on our profession until I achieved it myself. Earning this credential inspired me to continually promote nursing excellence, regardless of the role I hold.
Certification also empowered me to pursue additional opportunities within nursing. This includes leadership, not only in formal roles, but also as a leader among my colleagues. Becoming certified gave me the confidence to recognize that my voice matters when processes and care protocols are reviewed and improved. I take that responsibility seriously.
It is a privilege to support the professional growth and development of other nurses. From the moment I was encouraged to pursue certification, I felt a responsibility to pass that gift forward. That belief has driven my efforts to help create a culture of certification within our team. Today, I advocate daily for nurses to pursue certification. I also find great joy in celebrating their successes as they grow in their careers and contribute to a culture that prioritizes excellence and safer care.
What difference has being board certified in pediatric emergency nursing made for your patients and their families?
Pediatric nursing is already a highly specialized field, and certification further reinforces a commitment to excellence. Certified nurses strengthen the quality of care provided to patients and families during every shift.
Certification builds confidence in clinical knowledge and decision-making. That confidence extends beyond the individual nurse and positively influences the entire care team. Certified nurses help foster a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous learning, all of which contribute to exceptional care for pediatric patients. CPENs are also committed to supporting one another and advancing the profession through shared knowledge, mentorship, and specialized resources.
At the end of the day, nursing is about making a meaningful difference for patients and their families. Building and sustaining a culture that values certification is an important step toward achieving that goal.
Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing and Patient Operations Officer David Hancox, MSN, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, had this to say:
“I want to congratulate Solomiya for being recognized and awarded the 2026 Distinguished CPEN Award. I have known Solomiya for many years and have had the opportunity to witness her helping and leading others in nursing to succeed and advance in our profession.
Her expert pediatric emergency skills have made her leadership growth a natural trajectory, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team here at Nemours. I had the opportunity to work with her during her MSN degree clinical rotations, and every day she demonstrated the energy and drive to support others, advance clinical competency and improve outcomes in all ways. Congratulations Solomiya on this well-deserved recognition!”
Solomiya was nominated for the award by Kiley Ellis, a clinical nurse educator at Nemours Children’s Hospital – Delaware. Here’s what Kiley had to say:
“As a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Solomiya not only maintains rigorous competency within her own practice but also uses her expertise to guide, mentor, and inspire others. Recognizing the value of specialized pediatric emergency training, she has been instrumental in building a culture where certification is both supported and celebrated.
Because of her dedication, the department’s certification rate has climbed to over 40%, a significant and measurable achievement that directly reflects her leadership and passion for professional growth.
Through her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, she has strengthened the department’s ability to provide safe, high‑quality care to pediatric patients. Her efforts have elevated the entire culture of the department, reinforcing the importance of specialty knowledge and continuous learning as core elements of excellent emergency nursing practice.
Solomiya’s professionalism is demonstrated through her reliability, collaborative nature, and unwavering commitment to quality care. She fosters an environment where nurses feel encouraged to ask questions, seek guidance, and pursue higher competency. Her work strengthens multidisciplinary collaboration, enhances readiness for emergent pediatric and trauma cases, and ultimately improves patient outcomes.
Patients benefit from the enhanced clinical preparedness she has helped build, while nurses benefit from her mentorship, advocacy, and support.”
