A nursing director at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has received a prestigious award from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Brenda Kelly, R.N., M.A., director of nursing, oncology services, has received the 2011 Certified Advanced Nurse Award. Recipients of this award are chosen based on their significant contributions in the area of clinical practice, education, research or service. The reviewers cited Kelly’s extensive experience in leadership and innovation, notably with the Medical Center’s nursing Clinical Advancement Program (CAP) and the State Employee Credit Union (SECU) Family Housing initiative.
The award was presented at the 15th annual conference of the ANCC in October, held in Baltimore, Md.
“We are very proud of Brenda Kelly’s accomplishments and her leadership at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center,” said Maureen Sintich, R.N., M.S.N., chief nursing officer. “She exemplifies the best of nursing professionalism, mentoring and leading by example."
Kelly is the advising nursing director to the Shared Governance Professional Development Council, whose leadership guided the development of a Clinical Advancement Program that encourages nurses’ professional development, as well as an awards program that recognizes contributions to the organization and community and facilitates use of evidence-based practice. Her work with the Professional Development Council has led to increased certifications and pursuit of advanced degrees among Wake Forest Baptist nursing staff.
A proponent of family-centered care, Kelly was a leader in efforts to establish affordable housing for families of adult patients who travel to Winston-Salem for treatment. The 44-room SECU Family House opened on Sept. 21 in Winston-Salem on Hospice Lane.
As a patient advocate, Kelly established cancer survivor focus groups to help design the new cancer hospital, and established new care models such as a breast care nurse navigator program and a cancer patient advocate program to meet patient and family needs at the Medical Center and as they transition home.
Kelly also advocates for nursing research to inform nursing practice and health policy through her work at the Medical Center and on the numerous professional boards that she serves on.
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