2007 Excellence in Transplant Nursing Award

Ruth Strickler Tutor, PhD, CCRN

2007 Recipient of Roche/ITNS Excellence in Transplant Nursing Award

A Critical Care and Transplant Advanced Practice Nurse at Methodist Hospital LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis TN, with 22 years of transplant nursing experience being recognized for her nursing achievements is not new to Ruth Strickler Tutor, PhD, RN, APN, CCNS, APRN-BC, AOCN. Ruth has received Nurse of the Year Awards from the University of Tennessee and from Methodist Hospital. She has also been named to the Excellent Eleven Nurses and the Top 100 Nurses in Tennessee and now, recipient of the 2007 ITNS Excellence in Transplant Nursing Award.

An ITNS member for over 10 years and a charter member of the Mid-South Chapter of ITNS, Ruth is active in numerous professional organizations including AACN, ANA/TNA, Sigma Theta Tau, ONS, SCCM, and participates in many community activities like the NKF Walk and American Heart Walk feeling that “it is our responsibility to support the transplant community.”

Being recognized for her nursing achievements is not new to Ruth Strickler Tutor, PhD, RN, APN, CCNS, APRN-BC, AOCN. A Critical Care and Transplant Advanced Practice Nurse at Methodist Hospital LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis TN, Ruth has received Nurse of the Year Awards from the University of Tennessee and from Methodist Hospital. She has also been named to the Excellent Eleven Nurses and the Top 100 Nurses in Tennessee. She is active in numerous professional organizations including ITNS, AACN, ANA/TNA, Sigma Theta Tau, ONS, SCCM, and participates in many community activities like the NKF Walk and American Heart Walk feeling that “it is our responsibility to support the transplant community.”

Ruth has worked in the field of transplant nursing for 22 years and has been in ITNS member for over 10 years.

Dr Tutor has been involved with multiple transplant and critical care research studies and has presented at ITNS, UNOS and NATCO. She has recently completed a research grant study on Patient Acuity, Nurse Satisfaction, and Patient Satisfaction.

In addition to her other awards Dr Tutor received the Tennessee Hospital Association Clinical Nurse of Distinction for her development of a Transplant Fellowship Education Program and her clinical mentoring of other transplant nurse. Shari Smith, MS, RN, APN, who nominated Dr Tutor, states “Ruth has a passion for the acutely ill patient and constantly purses the art and science of nursing.” Shari also describes Ruth as “…the nurse most of the associates go to when there are any questions about transplantation.” It is no wonder that over 25 of Dr Tutor’s colleges and transplant team members supported her nomination for the Roche/ITNS Excellence in Transplant Nursing Award.

The award presentation will take place during the 2007 ITNS Symposium in Denver Colorado (Oct 4-6) and includes a $1000 monetary award, free registration to the 2007 ITNS Symposium, air travel to the Symposium, a one night hotel stay, and a plaque commemorating the award.

Congratulation Ruth you are most deserving of this award! ITNS is proud to have you as a member and fortunate to have you representing transplant nursing.