ITNS Transplant Nursing Excellence Award sponsored by Roche Pharmaceuticals

Call for Nominations

ITNS recognizes that the role of the transplant nurse is unique and that dealing with patients through the transplant continuum is often complex and challenging. Therefore ITNS wishes to recognize a special nurse whose career has exemplified the mission of ITNS

"…promotion of excellence in transplant clinical nursing through the provision of educational and professional growth opportunities, interdisciplinary networking, collaborative activities, and transplant nursing research. "

The Transplant Nursing Excellence Award is offered yearly and presented at the Society's Annual Symposium. The award recipient will receive a monetary award of $1,000 US, as well as a free symposium registration, free coach air travel and a one night hotel stay for the 2009 ITNS Annual Symposium in Montréal, Quebec, Canada September 24 - 26, 2009. The recipient must agree to be present at the Symposium to accept the award. Air travel must be made throught the ITNS travel agent and none of the award benefits are transferable.

Purpose

To recognize a nurse (RN or equivalent) involved in the care of transplant patients who reflects ITNS’s mission and value of education, research and clinical excellence.

Criteria for Nomination

• Employed in the area of  transplant nursing for at least 5 years
• Currently involved in the care of the transplant recipient, and / or donor, and / or donor family in the in-patient, out-patient, research or ambulatory care setting
• ITNS member for at least 3 years
• Current “Active” Level ITNS Membership (RN or equivalent) of both the nominator and the nominee
• Consistently applies the values and mission of ITNS through education, research and clinical practice

Application Criteria and Nomination Form

Complete the Nomination Form (PDF) and submit it along with a one page typed narrative of how the nominee has met the award criteria.

Documentation within the narrative should include the contribution and impact the nominee has had in transplant nursing. Providing an example to demonstrate clinical excellence is required. (The example may show direct patient intervention and / or care, community service with a transplant recipient focus, development of patient / staff education materials, participation in nursing research, participation in transplant organization, or mentorship in the field of transplantation.)

All nominations for the 2009 award must be received by July 15, 2009.

The award committee will blind review all narratives received by the deadline. After determining the selection criteria has been met, they will select the most qualified individual as the award recipient.

Send nominations to:   

Debbie Zaparoni
1739 E. Carson Street, Box #351
Pittsburgh, Pennsylania 15203-1700 USA
Phone:  +1 412-343-ITNS (4867)
Fax: +1 412-343-3959

Email: itns_admin@msn.com

2008 ITNS Excellence in Transplant Nursing Award Goes to Sandra Cupples

ITNS has a lot of amazing and committed members but few reach the level of Dr Sandra Cupples. Sandy has been a transplant nurse for 13 years and an ITNS member for most of that time. As a heart transplant coordinator at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, USA for the past 13 years, her primary responsibilities have included administration of the heart transplant program, evaluation of patients referred for heart transplantation, coordination of inpatient care, discharge planning and education, follow-up monitoring of transplant recipients, staff education, and nursing research. She recently was appointed as Outcomes Coordinator at Washington Hospital Center where she continues to support transplant through patient outcomes work.

Cynthia Russell, PhD, RN, who nominated Dr Cupples for the award wrote, “It is with much enthusiasm and admiration that I nominate Dr Sandra Cupples for the 2008 Nursing Excellence Award.” Cindy goes on to say, support of transplant nursing, specifically ITNS has been especially prevalent in Sandy’s career. She has been involved in assisting ITNS with its values, mission, and goals to promote education, networking, and research. She has been an abstract reviewer, served on the ITNS Board of Directors as Director of Chapter Development from 2003 to 2005 and is co – chair the St. Louis Symposium. She has been a requested speaker at numerous local, national, and international ITNS meetings on a variety of transplant issues and is one of the most popular and admired presenters. In her “spare time” Dr Cupples is also known as Captain Cupples in the US Naval Reserve.

Dr. Cupples’ contribution to transplantation education and research has been exemplary. She is currently Associate Editor for the transplant journal, Progress in Transplantation. She has received numerous grants with nursing research collaborators to study coping in heart transplant patients during the waiting period with the results being published in top peer-reviewed transplant journals. Dr. Cupples is especially recognized for two evidence-based books that are foundational in guiding transplant nursing care. They are Solid Organ Transplantation: A Handbook for Primary Health Care Providers and Transplantation Nursing Secrets. She has also edited the book, Core Curriculum for Transplant Nurses, a guide for transplant nurses who are studying for ABTC certification and has co-authored several of the “How To” ITNS nursing research brochures.

Dr Russell ended her letter of nomination by saying, “Sandy is indeed a role model for all of us in transplant nursing, her enthusiasm for and commitment to transplant nursing makes her very deserving of this prestigious award.” We couldn’t agree more and congratulations again to Sandy on this remarkable achievement!

The award was presented to Dr Cupples at the 2008 ITNS Symposium in St Louis. In addition to the engraved award, Sandra also received a $1,000 cash award, free registration to the 2008 symposium, air travel and a one night hotel stay.

ITNS wishes to thank to Roche Pharmaceutical for the continued support of this award.