Our 2026 Excellence in Nursing Awards

Behind every medical leader and physician is a team of nurses working tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of patient care runs smoothly. These caregivers are often the first to respond and provide expert medical care and emotional support for patients and families. Nurses stay by your side through life’s most challenging moments and advocate for your health and well-being. The amazing nurses in the following pages embody these qualities every day, and it’s our privilege to recognize their remarkable contributions.

Rhode Island Monthly partnered with the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, which solicited nominations for the best in the field from thirteen categories. Read on to discover the winners of our twelfth annual Excellence in Nursing Awards and what makes them so special.

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Clinical Nurse Educator

Ashley Perry | DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN

Clinical Program Manager, RN Education and Professional Practice, Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s

Ashley Perry. Photography by Dee Speaks

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it.  My specialty is nursing professional practice and development: I support nurses to grow, lead and advance their practice. I create opportunities through education, certification, research and shared decision-making. I chose this path because I love helping nurses see what they’re truly capable of, to find their voice and recognize their power — not just to provide care — but to advocate, lead change and shape the future of health care in ways that truly impact patients and communities.

What are you most proud of in your career?  I’ve disseminated my work in stroke care, fall prevention and implementation science at local, national and international conferences and published health briefs and peer-reviewed articles with community and academic partners. It’s deeply rewarding to know these contributions are wide-reaching and influence practice, support nurses and improve patient care far beyond where the work first began.

What are the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the role?  No two days are ever the same. From launching and staffing an alternative hospital site during COVID to promoting nursing through public service campaigns and engaging with local legislators to help shape health care policy, I’m regularly pushed outside my comfort zone. These experiences have broadened my perspective and strengthened my leadership. Another reward is increasing nurses’ confidence and empowerment.

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Nurse in a Nontraditional Setting

Michelle Iacoi | RN, BS, CSNT

Certified School Nurse Teacher, Westerly Middle School; President, Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Association

Michelle Iacoi. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you to the nursing field? I was drawn to the field of nursing over forty- five years ago, inspired by my mother, a dedicated nurse. I spent years working in hospital nursing before returning to school to become a certified school nurse teacher. Caring for others and advocating for students has become the highlight of my career. Making a difference every day remains the greatest privilege of my life, second only to raising my family.

What are you most proud of in your career? I am most proud of serving as president of the Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Association for the past five years. During this time, I have created strategic partnerships and secured grants that have given opportunities to all school nurses in Rhode Island. I am passionate about collaborating with state and local agencies, including working on and advocating for legislation that makes a difference in our students’ lives. School nursing is a specialty that requires a balance of emergency response, complex medical care, public health and mental health. My work has helped to ensure that Rhode Island school nurses have the tools that they need to be successful in their practices.

What makes a successful nursing team? Success within nursing teams relies on a cohesive, dedicated group committed to shared goals. Drawing on my experiences as a hospital manager, school leader and now president of RICSNA, I believe that strong leadership is essential. As the leader,
you must guide the team while remaining open to ideas and challenges. Most importantly, successful leaders must act as mentors, developing and supporting their successors to ensure ongoing team excellence.

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Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Rachel Lyons | Ph.D., DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC, CEN

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Providence College’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences; Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Hasbro Children’s

Rachel Lyons. Photography by Dee Speaks

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. I’m an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and have spent much of my career caring for children and families in pediatric emergency settings. I was drawn to pediatrics because caring for children requires not only strong clinical judgment, but also an ability to support families during some of their most stressful moments. Emergency care is fast paced and unpredictable, and I value the opportunity to assess a child, identify what is most urgent and work with an interdisciplinary team to provide safe and compassionate care.

What are the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the role? Making complex decisions quickly while caring for a child and supporting an anxious family at the same time. Children may not always be able to explain what they are feeling, so nurses must pay close attention to subtle clinical changes and listen carefully to caregivers. That responsibility can be demanding, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. There is great satisfaction in helping a child improve, giving a family reassurance and clear information, and knowing that thoughtful nursing care made a difficult experience a little less frightening.

What makes a successful nursing team? Trust, communication and respect. In high-acuity settings, team members need to feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions and sharing concerns. The strongest teams recognize the expertise each person brings and remain focused on the patient and family. Nursing can be emotionally and physically demanding, and a team that communicates well, learns together and looks out for one another is better able to provide safe and compassionate care.

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Community/Home/Public Health Nurse 

Julie Hendrickson | RN, BSN

Registered Nurse, Thrive Behavioral Health

Julie Hendrickson. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you into the nursing field? During my adolescent years, my grandfather was frequently hospitalized due to illness. I often visited him and developed a strong interest in the medical field. I became a candy striper at Kent Hospital and continued volunteering throughout high school. That experience solidified my passion for health care and ultimately led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Rhode Island College.

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. I believe the specialty chose me. I began my nursing career at Hasbro Children’s, where I worked with adolescents for fourteen years. When my unit transitioned to a psychiatric unit, I gained experience caring for young people with mental illness. In 2016, I joined Thrive Behavioral Health’s Healthy Transitions Program, which supports young adults experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Through this work, I developed a deeper appreciation for psychiatric nursing and the impact that compassionate, recovery-oriented care can have on individuals and their families.

What is the best part of the job? Many of the participants I meet have experienced their first psychotic break and inpatient hospitalization. They are often trying to make sense of their diagnosis, understand their treatment and determine what their future might look like. Having the opportunity to support individuals during such a vulnerable time in their lives is one of the greatest privileges of my role. The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching participants move from a place of uncertainty and fear to one of hope, recovery and self-confidence. Being able to guide, educate and support them as they build the skills needed to achieve their goals and lead meaningful, productive lives is what makes this work so fulfilling.

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Licensed Practical Nurse

Tammy LeBrun | LPN, VWCN

Charge Nurse, Alpine Nursing Home

Tammy LeBrun. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you to the nursing field? When I was eight years old, my grandfather passed away in front of me. I saw the actions of the paramedics followed by the compassion and care shown by the nurses at the hospital as they told our family he had passed. At that point I knew I wanted to help people with that same dedication, compassion and care. I started working at Alpine Nursing Home at thirteen in the kitchen. The nursing staff guided me on my journey to ultimately attend nursing school in 2002.

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. I went into geriatric nursing to provide care to the older population and compassion to their families. When I entered this specialty, I believed this area was underserved by the nursing profession. While geriatric nursing is a broad specialty, it provides me the opportunity to treat the whole patient.

Was nursing always your career path? Since I started working at the nursing home at age thirteen, I have always maintained a job in the medical/nursing career. With the aid and guidance of several mentors, I was able to attend nursing school in 2002 and earn my LPN designation. Since graduation, I have worked in a variety of geriatric nursing roles.

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Long-Term Care Nurse

Betty Francisco | RN

Director of Nursing Services, Little Sisters of the Poor

Betty Francisco. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you to the nursing field? A deep desire to care for others during difficult moments. I believe that everyone is born with abilities in certain areas and my dream was always to be a nurse. Over the years, nursing has become much more than a career — it is my calling. I’m especially passionate about caring for older adults in long-term care and I have loved building relationships with my residents and their families. Advocating for residents’ needs and ensuring they receive safe, dignified and compassionate care has given meaning to the work I do.

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. Over the course of my nursing career, I have worked in various capacities, leading to director of nurses. For me, this role is much more than meetings, managing schedules, policies and regulations. I have the daily privilege of caring for residents and mentoring and supporting nursing staff. Watching my nurses grow in confidence, fostering teamwork and creating a culture of excellence allows me to make an even greater impact. Knowing that my leadership abilities help improve the quality of care for every resident makes my personal sacrifices worthwhile and gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

What is the most rewarding part of the job? There are difficult days, heartbreaking moments and challenges that test me every day. It can also be very humbling and rewarding. I have the privilege of caring for people who have spent their lives raising families, serving our country in the military and making countless sacrifices for others. They deserve to be treated with kindness, dignity and respect. It’s an honor to ensure they receive compassionate care. Nursing has taught me resilience, empathy and the importance of serving others with both skill and heart. It continues to inspire me every day, and I am grateful to be part of a profession that truly changes lives.

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Nurse Entrepreneur

Sarah Waimon | RN, BSN

CEO of Waimon Innovations Inc., creator of Looey; Administrative Nursing Coordinator, South County Hospital

Sarah Waimon. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you to the nursing field? My grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and received hospice care at home. Watching the nurses care for him with compassion and dignity left a lasting impression on me. They not only supported my grandfather but also provided comfort and guidance to our family during a difficult time. Their kindness inspired me to pursue nursing, with the goal of offering the same compassionate care and support to my own patients and their families.

What is the most rewarding part of the job? As an entrepreneur, it’s creating a product that I genuinely want to use myself. There is nothing better than showing Looey [a bedpan shield] to another nurse and hearing them say, “Where has this been my whole career?” I love seeing how sharing my story inspires other nurses to look at everyday challenges differently, question the status quo and realize that they, too, can turn a problem into a meaningful solution. Empowering nurses to become innovators is incredibly fulfilling.

What are you most proud of in your career? I am proud of the moments where I have been able to provide comfort to patients during their most vulnerable times and support my colleagues through challenging situations. However, I take the greatest pride in using my experiences to pursue an entrepreneurial path and develop a company dedicated to improving the safety of caregivers and patients. I am especially proud that I leveraged my bedside experience to challenge the status quo and develop a device that makes patient care safer and better protects caregivers.

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Nurse Leader

Donna McDonald | MSN, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Optum Behavioral Health; Adjunct Professor, Zvart Onanian School of Nursing, Rhode Island College

Donna McDonald. Photography by Dee Speaks

What is unique about your job? I am fortunate to work in a role where the quality of my work and impact of my training matter far more than volume. As a behavioral health nurse practitioner consultant with Optum Behavioral Health, I support older adults living in nursing home settings. I can genuinely say that no two days are the same. My work is highly dynamic: I travel to different facilities, provide behavioral health consultation and support, and lead in-service education programs for long-term care clinical staff. This combination of clinical practice, teaching, collaboration and mobility keeps my work meaningful and engaging.

What are you most proud of in your career? I made a deliberate decision to take ownership of my clinical training during my transition from student to nurse practitioner. I began searching for preceptors more than a year in advance, reaching out to practices, visiting offices and remaining persistent until I found mentors whose work reflected the kind of clinician I hoped to become. That persistence paid off. One of my most influential mentors was Beverly Rich, a respected faculty member at Rhode Island College and a nurse practitioner at Brown University Health. Through that experience, I discovered a deeper appreciation for clinical practice and my own passion for teaching. When she retired, she recommended me for her adjunct faculty position, which was an extraordinary opportunity that profoundly influenced the direction of my career. Today, I continue to introduce students to clinical practice and education, helping them discover the same sense of purpose and possibility that was once inspired in me.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned? Nurses often develop strong professional identities within their specialties, whether in psychiatry, critical care, emergency nursing, primary care or another area. These identities create expertise and a sense of belonging, but they can also limit collaboration outside our immediate practice environments. I have also observed a shift in how early-career nurses connect with the profession. Many prefer flexible, technology-supported forms of education and networking rather than traditional meetings or in-person social events. While this creates new opportunities, it can also make it more difficult to form meaningful professional relationships. This generational shift highlights the need for modern, accessible ways to connect nurses across specialties, organizations and career stages. I remain committed to helping create those opportunities through education, mentorship and professional relationship-building.

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Nurse Executive

Elaine Narducci | RN, BSN, CCP, CPHQ

Executive Director, Atmed Urgent Care

Elaine Narducci. Photography by Dee Speaks

What is unique about your job? In my role as the executive director of two urgent care centers, I blend both my clinical and administrative skills. I share my many years of clinical experience with my staff and educate them on issues involving patient safety, risk management and compliance.

What are you most proud of in your career? I have always enjoyed the challenges of clinical bedside nursing. Working the Station nightclub fire tragedy solidified my desire to further my career in other areas of nursing, including patient safety. I am most proud that I have been able to demonstrate that nursing brings a unique, patient-centered perspective that can have a positive impact on health care roles traditionally held by individuals other than nurses such as risk management, corporate compliance and administration.

What is your most interesting experience? Creating the groundwork to quickly establish one of the state’s respiratory care centers, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health, during the pandemic. As part of the initiative, we also became the primary urgent care sites to deliver the administration of monoclonal antibodies, which at the time was the most effective method of treating COVID.

What makes a successful nursing team? There are two primary components that make a successful nursing team. The first is a servant leader who does not hesitate to assist their staff during challenging times and creates an atmosphere of open communication, connection and collaborative decision-making. The second is mutual respect, trust, partnership and shared accountability among team members who are committed to exceptional patient care.

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Recent Nurse Graduate

Krista Wolslegel | BSN, RN, CV-BC

Clinical Nurse 3, The Miriam Hospital Coronary Care Unit

Krista Wolslegel. Photography by Dee Speaks

What drew you to the nursing field? My father fell off a roof when I was three years old and required numerous surgeries, hospitalizations and extensive physical rehabilitation. It required me to grow up with a caregiver mindset, and I began feeling comfortable in the hospital setting. When I was in third grade, I wrote a research paper on Clara Barton, a nurse in the 1800s who founded the American Red Cross. Learning about her dedication to people she didn’t even know drew me to the field of nursing. Throughout high school I worked as a junior volunteer at my local hospital, helping to transport patients and acting as a support. This strengthened my desire to become a nurse even more as I grew to love the hospital setting and the way you can transform a patient’s experience through compassion and empathy.

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. I work in the coronary care unit at The Miriam Hospital. The CCU specializes in cardiac care, seeing anything from myocardial infarctions and arrythmias to advanced heart failure management. In nursing school, I was not very fond of cardiology due to its complexity. My preceptorship during my final semester of nursing school was in the CCU at Miriam, and it changed my opinion of cardiac care. I loved learning about the heart and the numerous procedures, medications and forms of prevention. I started as a new graduate nurse in the CCU in 2023 and have gained confidence in my skills and knowledge regarding cardiac conditions. My goal is to continue my career in cardiology or go back to school to become a cardiology nurse practitioner.

What are you most proud of in your career? Throughout the three years of my nursing career, I have done numerous things I didn’t think I would. I have joined the professional development committee, acted as a competency champion for my unit, and obtained my cardiovascular board certification. The most meaningful, however, is creating a CCU team for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk. For the last two years, we’ve raised money to support crucial CPR training, research and educational resources for patients. We began participating in this walk in 2025 after caring for a young transplant patient. This patient experience made me want to get more involved in other ways beyond the bedside.

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Clinical Practice Nurse

Michael Matos | RN

Podiatry Services, Providence VA Medical Center

Michael Matos. Photograph courtesy of Michael Matos

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. I have been an RN for twenty-plus years, with wound care as my primary area of practice for the past fifteen years. My interest began early in my career at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital where an exceptional mentor inspired my passion. I enjoy wound care because I can see the direct impact of the treatment and education I provide on healing and quality of life. Building lasting relationships with patients through regular follow-up visits is especially rewarding and allows me to make a meaningful difference in their care.

What is unique about your job? I deeply value the opportunity to care for veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. Having worked in both civilian and private health care settings, I find it especially meaningful to serve this population. My brother is a veteran, which gives this work a personal connection. I have developed meaningful relationships with the veterans I both care for and work with.

What are the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the role? Navigating an increasingly complex and strained health care environment while ensuring patients receive the care they deserve. Over the years, providing the level of care I would want for my own family has not always been easy. Wound healing can be unpredictable, and every patient presents unique challenges. The most rewarding part is seeing patients succeed, watching wounds heal, restoring quality of life and helping individuals achieve outcomes they were once told were impossible. Knowing that my care, education and support contributed to that success is incredibly fulfilling.

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Academic Setting

Amy Delaney | Ph.D., RN, CPNP

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Providence College’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Franciscan Children’s, Boston

Amy Delaney. Photograph courtesy of Amy Delaney

Tell us about your specialty and why you chose it. Children are extraordinary. From caring for fragile newborns to partnering with young adults navigating chronic illness and increasing independence, I have the privilege of witnessing remarkable resilience, growth and perspective every day. Children also remind us not to take ourselves too seriously: They’re honest, curious and unpredictable. They are joyful reminders that even during difficult times, they have an incredible ability to bring laughter and hope. Today, my passion for pediatrics extends beyond clinical practice into nursing education. Every student I teach can impact countless children and families throughout their career. If I can help prepare nurses who combine clinical excellence with compassion, curiosity and advocacy, then my impact extends far beyond the patients I care for.

What is unique about your job? I have the opportunity to improve children’s health in many different ways. During any one week, I may care for patients as a pediatric nurse practitioner, teach future nurses in the classroom, conduct research to advance pediatric care and advocate for policies that improve the health of children and families. Each role informs the others and keeps me connected to the realities of pediatric practice. Few professions offer the opportunity to make an impact on one child, one student, one research study and one policy decision at a time.

What is the best part of the job? After thirty-five years in nursing, the greatest reward is perspective. Few professions have the privilege of witnessing so much of the human experience. I have cared for newborns taking their first breaths, supported families through unimaginable loss, celebrated children reaching milestones once thought impossible, and watched young adults with chronic childhood conditions thrive in ways we could only hope for decades ago. Nursing allows us to bear witness to both joy and heartbreak, uncertainty and hope, beginnings and endings. I’m also fortunate to have practiced during a time of extraordinary scientific and nursing innovation. I’ve watched conditions once considered terminal become chronic, allowing children to live longer lives because of advances in medicine, nursing research and family-
centered care.

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Staff/Team

Operational Support Registered Nurse Team, The Miriam Hospital

Interviewee: Vanessa Conte, OSRN, member of the Operational Support Registered Nurse team  at The Miriam Hospital 

Operational Support Registered Nurse Team, The Miriam Hospital. Photography by Dee Speaks

Explain the role of the team. The Operational Support Registered Nurse team provides expert clinical support, operational leadership, patient education and mentorship across all inpatient units. Our role is unique because we integrate direct patient care with quality improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration and nursing leadership to support both patients and frontline staff. Working closely with physicians, case management, nursing staff and other interdisciplinary team members, we identify and address barriers to discharges, facilitate timely treatment, coordinate safe discharges and support seamless transitions throughout hospitalization. By improving patient flow, we reduce delays, optimize hospital resources and increase access to care for patients. Beyond direct patient care, the team actively participates in quality and safety initiatives, helping shape policies, workflows and best practices that improve patient outcomes across the organization. By combining clinical expertise, leadership, education and operational support into a single role, the OSRN team has created an innovative model of nursing practice that enhances patient care, strengthens the nursing workforce and improves the overall efficiency of hospital operations.

How many people are involved in the team? Our team currently consists of ten Operational Support Registered Nurses. We began in April 2025 with just four nurses, and as the role quickly evolved, it expanded to meet the growing needs of our patients, nursing staff and hospital. Each member brings extensive bedside experience and a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration and continuous professional growth.

What are some team achievements you’re proud of? Our team has helped reduce the hospital’s average length of stay from 4.1 days to 3.9 days through proactive discharge planning, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient education. We’re equally proud of the support we’ve provided to frontline nurses by responding to high-acuity situations, mentoring new nurses and creating a reliable resource that strengthens patient care across every inpatient unit. By strengthening quality of care and identifying discharge barriers early on in a patient’s stay, we improve access to care for patients waiting in the emergency department and throughout the health care system. Our work demonstrates how we can positively influence individual patient outcomes as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of hospital operations. We are especially proud of our team’s commitment to continuous professional growth and excellence. Since the team’s creation, several members have earned specialty certifications, many have pursued graduate education, and our team continues to serve in leadership roles throughout the organization by teaching, mentoring and participating in numerous quality and safety initiatives. We are proud that our impact extends beyond individual patient encounters to improving nursing practice and hospital operations as a whole.

What is the best/most rewarding part of the job? The most rewarding part is knowing that we make a meaningful difference for patients, nursing and the hospital every day. Whether we’re helping work through a difficult discharge barrier, supporting a family during a difficult hospitalization, assisting a bedside nurse during a critical situation, mentoring a new graduate nurse, or educating on quality and safety, we have the opportunity to make a positive impact. Our role allows us to improve patient care while also supporting the people who provide that care. Being able to step in when help is needed, solve problems collaboratively and watch patients leave the hospital feeling prepared and confident is incredibly fulfilling. Every day is different and presents another opportunity to make a difference.

What makes a successful nursing team? Our OSRN team succeeds because we believe that no challenge is too great when we work together. We celebrate each other’s successes, support one another through difficult situations and approach every patient encounter with compassion, professionalism and excellence. Ultimately, the strongest nursing teams understand that exceptional patient care is never the work of one individual, but the result of people working together toward a common purpose.