Nurse of the Year Award
The Honor a Nurse program allows colleagues, friends, family, or patients to honor a nurse who deserves recognition for the work they do every day.
The Honor a Nurse program began in 2017, and every year, we receive more nominations than the previous year.
A selection committee reviews the blinded nomination forms and chooses five nurses who exemplify dedication, compassion, and commitment to the profession. Each has made a difference for their patients, families, and colleagues and significantly contributed to the nursing profession in their specific disciplines.
In 2023, the INF Board of Directors revamped the Nurse of the Year Award process. This will include a new focused campaign to encourage nominations using the expanded and clarified criteria. Watch for further details in early 2024.
We are honored to celebrate all our honorees.
2023 Nurse of the Year
Jennifer Sandoval DNP, MS, RN
2023 FINALISTS
Monique Reed PhD, MS, RN, FAAN
Analia Elizalde DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PEL-CSN
Susan Gonzalez MHA, MSN, RN, CNML
Cheryl Anema PhD, RN
2022 Nurse of the Year
Jackie Kelley MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
2022 FINALISTS
Jennifer Sandoval MSN, RN
Dan Fraczkowski MSN, RN-BC
Amelia Perez PhD, RN
Diane Ferriss BSN, RN
2021 Nurse of the Year
Kim Cannon RN
2021 FINALISTS
Betty Van Engen RN
2020 Nurse of the Year
This year, 2020, was to be a year of celebration as it was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Every single nurse faced the challenge of a global pandemic and has confronted the chaos caused by COVID-19. Each nomination and story, and each picture submitted to the Foundation, showed the courage, dedication, and determination of nurses across the entire state of Illinois. The INF Board concluded there was no way to recognize only one nurse to receive the award. For the year 2020, the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the decision was made so that all Illinois Nurses would be honored as Nurses of the Year.
2019 Nurse of the Year
Chris Galloway DNP, APRN-FPA, FNP-BC, MOT
2019 FINALISTS
Amanda Buechel, BSN, RN, CCRN
Eileen Moss, DNP, NR, NCSN, PEL-CSN
Sue Clark, Nurse Lobbyist
William Ryherd, BSN, RN
2018 Nurse of the Year
Mary Kelly, MBA, RN, CNRN, FAHA
2018 FINALISTS
Donna Plonczynski, PhD, CNP
Christine Durbin, PhD, JD, RN
Jane Llewellyn, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Jennifer M. Grenier, DNP, RN-BC
2017 Nurse of the Year
Dr. Vicki Keough, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN
2017 FINALISTS
Dr. Margaret Faut Callahan
Sharon Bartmer, RN
Rhys A. Gibson, BSN, RN