by Linda McGillis Hall
The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) advances health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Fellows of the Academy represent the epitome of nursing. They are nursing leaders in education, management, practice and research. More than 90% have doctoral degrees.
Invitation to fellowship is a great honour and a privilege; applicants must demonstrate they meet the Academy’s high standards. Fellows are expected to contribute to nursing and to the Academy on several levels, through enhancing the quality of health and nursing care; promoting healthy aging and human development across the life continuum; reducing health disparities and inequalities; shaping healthy behaviours and environments; integrating mental and physical health; and strengthening the nursing and health delivery system, nationally and internationally.
The Academy was initiated in January 1973 by the American Nurses Association, with an initial membership of 36 Fellows. Each year since then, the Academy welcomes new Fellows and beginning in 2007, Canadian nurses could be nominated as International Fellows. An invitation to become a Fellow is recognition of a nurse’s accomplishments within nursing.
We were delighted to be informed that four more of our faculty members have been invited to become Fellows of the Academy, and will be inducted in a ceremony in Washington in October. These include:
Bonnie Stevens, who was acknowledged for her extensive and exemplary research career as the inaugural Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research, with many significant contributions in the broad field of pediatric nursing, and more particularly in the field of pain assessment and management in children and infants in the hospital setting.
Lianne Jeffs, the inaugural St. Michael’s Hospital Volunteer Association Chair in Nursing Research was recognized for her work focused on generating and translating evidence to enhance quality patient care, care transitions, organizational learning, and health system performance.
Louise Rose who was recognized for her seminal contributions in critical care and emergency nursing, particularly relating to improving the experience of mechanically ventilated patients across the spectrum of care in diverse patient populations.
Lynn Nagle, whose national leadership in building the vision and capacity for health and nursing informatics in Canada was recognized. Conceptual and practical, her contributions were acknowledged as having been developmental and leading edge.
In addition, Kathy McGilton, who was offered Fellowship last year, will also be inducted this fall. The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing is honoured to be home to nine Fellows including Linda Johnston (2014), Sioban Nelson (2012), Judith Shamian (2009) and Linda McGillis Hall (2007).
For more information, please visit the American Academy of Nursing.