Individual Awards | Organizational Awards | Scholarships
About BCEN’s Awards Program
Every year, BCEN shines a national spotlight on exemplary nurses and organizations who are committed to specialty certification and excellence in emergency nursing and who promote and advance the value of board certification.
- BCEN’s Distinguished Awards recognize one nurse exemplifying excellence in each of four emergency nursing specialties: emergency (CEN®), pediatric emergency (CPEN®), transport (CFRN® and CTRN®), and trauma (TCRN®).
- BCEN’s National Certification Champion Award recognizes organizations in three categories: Small Healthcare Organization, Large Healthcare Organization and Healthcare System.
Help us recognize excellence, achievement and impact in emergency nursing certification. Nominate a colleague, nominate yourself, or nominate your workplace!
Eligibility requirements, judging criteria, nomination forms and deadlines, award dates, and previous winners are provided below.
Distinguished Awards
BCEN’s Distinguished Awards recognize board certified emergency nurses who exemplify excellence in their emergency nursing specialty practice and who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advocating for, supporting and promoting board certification for emergency nurses.
Please nominate an individual who demonstrates:
- Excellence in pursuing advanced knowledge with one of BCEN’s certifications
- Achievement in promoting and advocating for BCEN emergency nursing certification
- Impact of certification on the nursing profession and patient outcomes
Eligibility Requirements
Any nurse holding a current CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse), CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse), CPEN (Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse), CTRN (Certified Transport Registered Nurse) or TCRN (Trauma Certified Registered Nurse) certification is eligible to be nominated or nominate themselves.*
To be eligible for a Distinguished Award, nominees must:
- Hold the specific BCEN certification that is being honored
- Be currently practicing in that specialty emergency nursing area
*Individuals serving on BCEN’s board of directors or exam construction and review committees (ECRCs), or who are engaged in revenue-generating businesses or activities associated with any BCEN certification program, product or service (including providers of certification prep materials and/or review courses), are not eligible.
Nomination Submission Requirements
In order to be considered, nominations must include the following:
- Completed nomination form
- Nominee’s current CV
- Two (2) letters of reference from individuals with relevant professional positions
See each award below for nomination windows and forms, award presentation dates and previous winners.
Distinguished CEN Award
- Honors a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Distinguished CEN Award Nominations are no longer being accepted. Check back in early 2022 for next year’s nomination window!
- 2021 Winner
Heidi Cote
BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN Maine Medical Center, Portland, MEAbout Heidi
Heidi is a Clinical Nurse III and Clinical Nurse Coordinator at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Her team knows her as the best of the best. She is constantly advocating for her colleagues and helping them to achieve the highest levels of clinical and professional excellence through CEN certification. Heidi continues to raise the standard of care at Maine Medical Center through her nurse educator role and her practice at the bedside.
- Previous Winners
2020
Jude Lark, BSN, RN, CEN, CCRN
Overlook Medical Center, Summit, NJ2019
Heather Linsalata, BSN, RN, CEN
University Hospital, Newark, NJ2018
Wilmar Flores, BSN, RN, CEN
La Jolla Emergency Department, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Health Systems, La Jolla, CA2017
Kathy Ingersoll, BSN, RN, CEN
Harford Memorial Hospital, Havre de Grace, MD2016
Kara Bauman, MN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA2015
Diane Branson, RN, CEN, OR-SANE-A
Salem Hospital, Albany, OR
Distinguished CPEN Award
- Honors a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN).
- Distinguished CPEN Award Nominations are no longer being accepted. Check back in early 2022 for next year’s nomination window!
- 2020 Winner
Lisa Chambers
MSN, MPS, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN CHOC Children's Hospital, Orange, CAAbout Lisa
Lisa has increased the number of certified
nurses by 12, not an easy feat. She was able to accomplish this through
mentoring and seeking out funds to host a CPEN review course for the
organization. Lisa is well-respected across the organization and is
considered an expert clinical to her peers. She role models nursing
professionalism.
- Previous Winners
2019
Cara Szeglin, BSN, RN, CPEN
New York-Presbyterial Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, New York, NY2017
Jodi Cregger, RN, MICT, CEN, CFRN, CPEN
LifeTeam, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson, KS2016
Brian Johnson, RN, CEN, CPEN
NorthBay Medical Center, Fairfield, CA2015
Kristen Cline, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, SANE-A
Sanford AirMed, Sioux Falls, SD
Distinguished CFRN Award
- NEW in 2021: BCEN will seek to recognize one top CFRN and one top CTRN with individual awards.
- Award honors a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN).
- Winner recognized in July 2021.
- Distinguished CFRN Award Nominations are closed for 2021. Check back in late 2021/early 2022 for next year’s nominations.
- 2021 Winner
Kevin Kissner
MSN, RN, CEN, CFRN VCU Health & Virginia State Police Med-Flight I , Richmond, VAAbout Kevin
Kissner has helped his base maintain a 100% certification rate, spearheaded a Virginia State Police initiative to standardize helicopter hoist rescue operations, been a driving force behind multiple state-wide clinical staff educational initiatives, and been recognized with several unit “Life Save” awards for successful resuscitation of cardiac arrest during transport. His peers consider him a champion for evidence-based care, safety and education.
- Previous Winners
2020
Tonya Barnard, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CTRN, TCRN, CCRN, EMT-B
Pafford Air One, Orlando, FL2019
Carlos Tavarez, RN, CEN, CFRN, CTRN, TCRN, NREMT-P, FP-D, CCEMT-P, EMT-T, WEMT
Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL2018
Teresa Elder, MEd, BSN, RN, CFRN
Flight for LIfe Colorado, St. Anthony Hospital, Denver, CO2017
Bambi Pish-Derr, DNP, CFRN, CCRN
Angel MedFlight, Scottsdale, AZ2015
Mick McCallum, TNS, RN, CFRN, CCRN, EMT-P, FP-C, CMTE
Topeka, KS
Distinguished CTRN Award
- NEW in 2021: BCEN will seek to recognize one top CFRN and one top CTRN with individual awards.
- Award honors a Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN).
- Distinguished CTRN Award Nominations are closed for 2021. Check back in late 2021/early 2022 for next year’s nominations.
- 2016 Winner
Kimberly Lacina
MSN, ARNP-C, CTRN, CEN, EMT-P Sunstar Paramedics, Largo, FLAbout Kimberly
Kim has been involved in patient transport since 2002. Within a few months, she demonstrated a passion and proficiency for the mobile care environment and was excited to challenge herself by earning the CTRN to demonstrate her aptitude in public transport. While serving as coordinator for the CCT program at Sunstar, she began using her education in the field of transport nursing to get the program CAMTS accredited. Now serving as Director of Clinical Services for Sunstar, she works with all new-hires to prepare for the CFRN or CTRN exams and has enacted policies that allot time for these RNs to study and sit for the exam as part of their job requirements. - Previous Winners
N/A
Distinguished TCRN Award
- Honors a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN).
- Winner recognized at STN’s TraumaCon in March 2021.
- Distinguished TCRN Award Nominations are no longer being accepted. Check back in early 2022 for next year’s nominations!
- 2021 Winner
Julie Donnelly
MSN, RN, TCRN Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PAAbout Julie
From 2015 until 2020, Julie was the Trauma Program Manager at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In 2021, she was promoted to Director of Patient Care Services but still oversees their trauma program. As a leader, Julie has worked to remove barriers for her team and emphasized the importance of earning and maintaining trauma certification. Under her guidance, the trauma-designated units at her facility have consistently maintained certification rates that are above the average for all nursing units at her hospital. - Previous Winners
2020
Lt. Mariah Pruett, NC, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, TCRN, CCRN
David Grant USAF Medical Center
Fairfield, CA2019
Travis Beebe-Woodard, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT2018
June Guadalupe, MSN, BSN, RN, CEN, CCRN, CMC, CNRN, TCRN
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD2017
Andrea Wright, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Level I Trauma Center, Roanoke, VA
National Certification Champion Award
- Awarded in three categories.
- National Certification Champion Award Nominations are no longer being accepted. Check back in early 2022 for next year’s award nomination window.
BCEN’s National Certification Champion Award (formerly Honorary Certification Recognition Award) recognizes health care facilities and health systems that:
- Exemplify excellence in supporting emergency RNs who pursue BCEN certifications
- Show achievement in designing and implementing effective and innovative practices and programs that encourage, support, and recognize emergency nursing specialty certification
- Demonstrate the impact of a board certified emergency nurse workforce on patient, nurse and organizational outcomes
One national winner will be recognized in each of the following categories:
- Small Healthcare Organization: single hospital emergency department, trauma program or freestanding emergency center with less than 30,000 visits per year, or a single critical care ground transport and/or flight base
- Large Healthcare Organization: single hospital emergency department, trauma program or freestanding emergency center with more than 30,000 visits per year
- Healthcare System: a group or system of 2 or more hospital emergency departments, trauma programs, freestanding emergency centers, or critical care ground transport and/or flight bases
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the National Certification Champion Award, a facility or organization must:
- Currently employ BCEN-certified emergency, transport and/or trauma nurses
- Be actively engaged in supporting their nurses in obtaining and maintaining one or more of BCEN’s certifications
- Serve as a model for advancing board certification for the nursing profession
Nomination Requirements
In order to be considered, nominations must include the following:
- Completed nomination form
- Two (2) letters of reference from individuals with relevant professional positions or qualifications
Healthcare Systems
- 2020 Winner
Life LInk III
Minneapolis, MNAbout Life Link III
At Life Link III, 98% of their 44 nurses have one professional certification, 50% have two, and 22% have three or more, with the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) required for all RNs within 18 months of hire and additional certifications required for clinical ladder advancement. From day one, the value of certification is frequently spoken. Support includes a personal professional development fund, paid time off for exam prep and exam fee reimbursement, and opportunities to participate in and lead quality, safety and clinical initiatives.
- Previous Winners
2019
Northeast Georgia Health System
Gainesville, GA2018
UCHealth Emergency Care
Fort Collins, CO
Large Healthcare Organization
- 2021 Winner
Yale New Haven Hospital
Plattsburg, NYAbout Yale New Haven Hospital
“Yale New Haven Hospital’s path to becoming a BCEN National Certification Champion serves as a master class on how to build an emergency nursing powerhouse that raises the standard of care for patients of all ages and scenarios,” said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, CENP, CPHQ, FABC. “Any organization providing emergency, trauma, or transport nursing care can benefit from the certification best practices happening at Yale New Haven.”
As YNHH’s nursing specialty certification rates continue to rise on the way to their ultimate goal of 100%, the hospital’s adult and pediatric EDs and critical care transport program have seen a variety of metrics improve — from rapid triage and out-the-door transport times to sepsis care and suicide prevention screening — largely thanks to unit-based councils focusing on nurse-led-and-driven performance improvement initiatives. Incorporating certification into its clinical ladder program is one of many ways YNHH encourages, recognizes and rewards certification.
- Previous Winners
2020
University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
Plattsburg, NY2019
Oak Hill Hospital
Brooksville, FL2018
Chilton Medical Center
Pompton Plains, NJ2017
Houston Methodist Hospital System
Houston, TX2016
Avera McKennan Hospital Emergency Department
Sioux Falls, SD2015
Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital EMTC
Indianapolis, IN
Small Healthcare Organization
- 2020 Winner
Childress Regional Medical Center
Childress, TXAbout Childress Regional Medical Center
- With 42% of its emergency RNs holding the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and a mission to be the best rural facility in the state of Texas, Childress Regional Medical Center (CRMC) assists new hires with certification readiness and goal-setting from day one, offers a professional development scholarship fund for every employee, celebrates certified nurses with formal banquets covered by the local press, and rewards RNs with a pay increase for each national certification they hold.
- Previous Winners
2019
Rush Foundation Hospital ED
Meridian, MS2018
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Glendale, CA2017
Bristol Hospital
Bristol, CT2016
Angel MedFlight
Scottsdale, AZ2015
IU Health Saxony Hospital Emergency Department
Fishers, IN
Scholarships
As part of our commitment to helping BCEN-certified nurses achieve all of their professional development goals, BCEN will donate $175,000 in 2020 to fund nearly 60 academic nursing scholarships.
BCEN proudly:
- Donates to established scholarship programs to fund undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral scholarships for BCEN-certified nurses and fund paramedic-to-RN scholarships for paramedics committed to becoming BCEN-certified RNs
- Donates $10,000 to ASTNA’s bereavement fund
To apply for BCEN-funded academic scholarships, please visit our partner organizations’ websites here:
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA): https://www.ena.org/foundation/scholarships
Society of Trauma Nurses (STN): https://www.traumanurses.org/bcen-scholarships
Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA): https://astna.org
Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA): https://www.forevernursing.org/undergraduate-scholarships.html
Current Year Scholarship Contributions and Past Awardees:
ENA Foundation Scholarship - $70,000
- 2020 Awardees
BCEN Doctoral Scholarship Recipients
- Wendy Allen-Thompson, RN, CEN
New York
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Chelsea M Collins, BSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A
Colorado
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Julie Rieker, RN, CEN, CPEN
Indiana
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Kayla Albright, RN, CEN, CPEN
Georgia
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Monica Dyer, RN, CEN
Texas
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Flora Tomoyasu, RN, CEN
California
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Ruthie Clearwater, RN, CEN, CFRN, CTRN, TCRN
Hawaii
Amount Awarded: $5,000 - Carrie Hintz, RN, CEN
Nevada
Amount Awarded: $4,000
BCEN Master’s Scholarship Recipients
- Adrienne O’Neill, RN, CEN, TCRN
Oregon
Amount Awarded: $4,000 - Janna Ellsworth, RN, CEN
Arizona
Amount Awarded: $4,000 - Stacey Coss, RN, CPEN, TCRN
Colorado
Amount Awarded: $4,000 - Jessica Castro, RN, CEN
Illinois
Amount Awarded: $4,000 - Regina Kuykendall, RN, CEN
Virginia
Amount Awarded: $3,000 - Debbie VanDerWilt, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
Texas
Amount Awarded: $3,000 - Edward Noonan, RN, CEN
Massachusetts
Amount Awarded: $3,000
BCEN Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients
- Kimberly Whitfield, RN, CEN, TCRN
Georgia
Amount Awarded: $3,000 - Mari Hoover-McGarry, RN, CEN, TCRN
Florida
Amount Awarded: $3,000
- Wendy Allen-Thompson, RN, CEN
Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) Scholarship - $35,000
- 2020 Awardees
BCEN Doctoral Scholarship Recipients
- Juli Verlker, MSN, MFS, RN, CEN, TCRN
N/A - Keith Peterson, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
Rutgers University: School of Nursing - Elizabeth Doss, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, TCRN
University of Missouri – Columbia - Amanda Kencyk, MSN, ACNS, CEN, TCRN
Chamberlain College of Nursing - Carolyn Krouse, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, TCRN
University of South Alabama
BCEN Graduate Scholarship Recipients
- Jason Brauninger, RN, BSN, CEN, TCRN, ATCN
Emory University - Kevin Kobler, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN-CSC
Indiana Wesleyan University - Chelsea Burke, RN, BSN, TCRN
A&M Corpus Christi Nursing School - Mindy Walters, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN, CCRN-K
Nebraska Methodist College – Josie Harper Campus - Jessica Menke, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN
University of Alabama at Birmingham
BCEN Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients
- Alisha Dixon, RN, CCRN, TCRN
University of Texas at Arlington - Tracy Cotner-Pouncy, RN, TCRN
University of Texas Arlington - Erin Makefield, BAS, ADN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CFRN, NREMTP, CCPC, FPC
West Texas A&M
BCEN Paramedic Scholarship Recipients
- Evan Alling, EMT-P, NRP, CCP-C,FP-C, RN
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Juli Verlker, MSN, MFS, RN, CEN, TCRN
Air & Surface Transport Nursing Association (ASTNA) - $35,000
- 2020 Awardees
BCEN Doctoral (DPN) Scholarship Recipients
- Gregory Wamack, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CFRN, CTRN, AEMT, Mount Juliet, TN
- Jonathan Baxter, BSN, RN, NREMT-B, CEN, CFRN, TCRN, CCRN, Ward, AR
BCEN Masters (MSN) Scholarship Recipients
- Teri Campbell, CEN, CFRN, TNS, PHRN, Chicago, IL
- Paul Rigby, RN, BSN, BS, CFRN, CCRN, EMT-P, CCEMT-P, Schoolcraft, MI
- David Schnabel Jr, BSN, RN, CFRN, CCRN, PHRN, Ardmore, PA
- Kaitlyn Luckey-Smith, RN, BSN, MSc, CCRN, CFRN, FP-C, NR-Paramedic, CEN, Clyde, NC
- Kyle Lucky-Smith, MSc, CCRN, CFRN, FP-C, Clyde, NC
Paramedic to RN Scholarship Recipients
- Jeffrey Begay Jr, AAS EMT-P, NRP, FP-C, C-NPT, Denver, CO
- Jeffrey Massie, EMT-P, FPC, Simi Valley, CA
- Jesse Mangiacarne, Associates Degree Paramedic, NREMT-P, PA state paramedic, FP-C, Altoona, PA
National Student Nurses Association Foundation (NSNA) - $35,000
- 2021 Awardees
- Michael Fleck, Pennsylvania State University
- Jason Hicks, University of Massachusetts – Amherst
- Annamaria Keltner, Point Loma Nazarene University
- Colleen Kinslow, Medical University of South Carolina
- John Palmer, University of Pennsylvania
- Sabrina Sabry, Chamberlain University College of Nursing
- Grace Schaefer, Binghamton University, Decker School of Nursing
- Hailey Stevens, University of New Hampshire
- Gabriela Willet, Seattle University, College of Nursing