Thought I should pass this on: USAF Colonel Receives National Award for Contributions to Acute and Critical Care Nursing

Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will give the Flame of Excellence Award to U.S. Air Force Col. Marla J. De Jong, executive director, TriService Nursing Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md., the nation’s federal health sciences university.

De Jong will receive the award at the 2010 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, Washington, D.C., May 15-20. The Flame of Excellence Award honors sustained contributions to acute and critical care nursing at a high level and with broad reach.

De Jong recently served as the program manager for the Joint Theater Trauma System in Baghdad, Iraq, and Air Force program manager at the Department of Defense Blast Injury Research Program Coordinating Office, where research and practice protocols are developed for the treatment, mitigation and prevention of traumatic injuries.

A prolific writer, this former editor of the quarterly journal AACN Advanced Critical Care, has published more than 35 journal articles, several book chapters and a book. Her work has shaped military and civilian nursing practice and education, healthcare delivery, management and policy.

Inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Indianapolis, in 1987, De Jong has received several nursing awards including United States Air Force Field Grade Nurse of the Year, Carolyn A. Williams Nursing Award from the University of Kentucky, the Nursing Research Award from the Heart Failure Society of America and AACN’s Research Oral Abstract Award.

Military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

About AACN’s Flame of Excellence Award: AACN’s Flame of Excellence Award recognizes consistent high-level outcomes with a broad reach in acute and critical care nursing. Selected from the AACN Circle of Excellence Society, Flame of Excellence Award recipients promote patient-driven excellence through skilled communication, collaboration and decision making that transform thinking and achieve visible results. Award recipients receive a $500 honorarium and a crystal replica of the AACN vision icon at the 2010 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, May 15-20, in Washington, D.C.

About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represent the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.
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