• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main content
Choose which site to search.
UAMS Health Logo UAMS Health
Nurses: Center for Nursing Excellence
  • UAMS.edu
  • MyChart
  • Giving
  • Emergency Room
  • About Center for Nursing Excellence
    • Contact Us
  • Advanced Practice Providers
  • Communication
    • CNO Corner
    • CNO’s Nursing Address
    • Nursing Annual Report
      • Archived Nursing Annual Report
    • Nursing Excellence Newsletters
    • Nursing Grand Rounds
      • Nursing Grand Rounds 2023
      • Nursing Grand Rounds 2024
      • Nursing Grand Rounds 2025
    • Staff Meeting Content
    • Take 2
  • Nurses Week
    • Nurses Week 2024
      • 2024 Awards of Excellence
      • 2024 Professional Nursing Awards
      • Nurses Week 2024 CNO Store
      • Nurses Week 2024 Employee Discounts
      • Nurses Week 2024 Get Healthy
      • Nurses Week Activities 2024
      • Spirit Week Activities/Opportunity to win DAILY UAMS Swag
    • Nurses Week 2025 CNO Kick-Off Video
    • Other Ways to Win Swag
    • Recipe Downloads
    • Recipe Submission (March 18 to April 9)
  • Practice
    • Culture of Inquiry
      • Evidence-Based Practice
        • UAMS Evidence-Based Practice Model
      • Innovation
        • BioVentures FAQ
      • Quality Improvement
      • Research
    • UAMS Resource Nurse Program and Application
      • Inpatient Resource Nurse Program
      • Resource Nurse Program Application – Ambulatory
      • Resource Nurse Program Application – Inpatient
  • Professional Development
    • Professional Development – Clinical Ladder
    • Professional Development – RN IV/V
      • RN IV/V Workshops
    • Professional Development — National Certification
      • Become a Nationally Certified Nurse
      • FAQs About National Certification
    • Professional Development — RN to BSN
  • Recognition Matters
    • In Remembrance of a Nurse
    • Nomination for DAISY Award
    • Nomination for the BEE Award
    • Professional Nursing Awards
      • Advancement of Nursing Practice Award
      • Excellence in Advanced Practice Award
      • Excellence in Nursing Education Award
      • Outstanding Community Service Award
      • The Betty Casali Transformational Leadership Award Guidelines
      • The Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing Award
    • The Daisy Nurse Leader Award – Honoring Nurses Internationally In Memory of J. Patrick Barnes
    • UAMS Nurses in the Media
  • UAMS is Proud to be Magnet Designated
    • Magnet Champions
  1. UAMS Health
  2. Nurses
  3. Center for Nursing Excellence
  4. Recognition Matters

Recognition Matters

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and UAMS takes great pride in recognizing nursing staff. We have multiple recognition programs within UAMS and the Center of Nursing Excellence not only supports local, state and regional recognition programs, but also, nominations of UAMS nursing staff for the following UAMS nursing recognition programs:

DAISY, BEE and Outstanding Area of the Month

Monthly we recognize a DAISY, BEE and the Outstanding Area of the Month. DAISY and BEE are nominated, but the Outstanding Area of the Month is awarded by quality metrics.

  • DAISY
  • BEE

DAISY Nurse Leader

We award two DAISY Nurse Leaders a year. We take nominations from co-workers describing the impact the nominee has on staff and patient care.

Learn More

Professional Nursing Awards

Every years during Nurses Week, the Center for Nursing Excellence presents the Professional Nursing Awards. All 5 award are very special.

  • Professional Nursing Awards
  • Betty Casali Transformational Leadership
  • Advancement of Nursing Practice
  • Excellence in Nursing Education
  • Outstanding Community Service
  • Advanced Practice Providers (APP)

Awards of Excellence

There are 3 awards presented for Awards of Excellence. These awards are sponsored by the UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary in an effort to celebrate and honor UAMS staff.

  • Awards of Excellence
  • Helen May Compassionate Care Award
  • The Mary Helen Forrest Nursing Legacy
  • Team Impact Award

Nurse Remembrance

The Center for Nursing Excellence also established Nurse Remembrance to recognize deceased UAMS nurses and nursing students.

UAMS Nurses in the Media

The Center for Nursing Excellence also showcases UAMS nursing in advertisements through multiple media outlets such as the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Times, the UAMS website, and social media.

Check Out the Ads

Professional Nursing Awards

Excellence in Advanced Practice Award 2024

Erin Kindy, APRNSICU/Surgical ServicesErin was nominated by Mary K. Kimbrough. The UAMS SICU takes care of the some of the sickest and most injured surgical patients in the state of Arkansas, and Erin has been integral in the care of many, if not all, of these patients. We had a young patient with a devastating […]

Read more

Betty Casali Transformational Leadership Award 2024

Jami Travis, Nursing DirectorCritical Care DivisionJami was nominated by Garrett Kubic, Clinical Services Manager <pJami exemplifies what it means to be transformational leader and is a personal mentor for many nurses and leaders. She actively demonstrates to me what a good and transformational leader is by making it a priority to actively listen to the […]

Read more

Excellence in Nursing Education Award 2024

Cynthia Onstott, Curriculum Development Specialist, Clinical EducationCynthia was nominated by Shannon Finley During new employee orientation, Cynthia advocates for nurses progressing up the clinical ladder at UAMS and offers real-life insights into the versatility of the nursing profession. As an educational specialist, she is responsible for assessing, developing, and evaluating clinical training programs, including integrating […]

Read more

Outstanding Community Service Award 2024

Lauren Wegener, RNNurse EducatorIDHI SANE ProgramLauren was nominated for all of her leadership and continuous volunteer efforts in forensic nursing that serves as a Community Service project. Lauren’s continuous volunteer efforts are demonstrated through her role as a co-founder and secretary of the Arkansas Forensic Nurses Association, which was founded in 2021. As part of […]

Read more

Want to read more stories like these?

View the Full List

Awards of Excellence and Professional Nursing Awards

Mary Helen Forrest Legacy Award 2024

Donna Elrod, PhD, RN,Associate Chief Nursing Officer Donna was nominated by Heather Alverson. Donna has worked in the organization since 1989. She went to Vanderbilt for 5 years and then returned in 1995 when she started in front line staffing and then went into her role in clinical education as a CNS, supporting the oncology […]

Read more

Advancement of Nursing Practice Award 2024

Melanie Mason, RNNeonatal Intensive Care UnitMelanie was nominated for a quality improvement project she led. Melanie is the resource nurse for the NICU. Vancomycin and Gentamicin are commonly used antibiotics in the neonatal population and need close adherence to timed dosing to ensure the accuracy of therapeutic drug monitoring and achievement of desired therapeutic level. […]

Read more

Mary Helen Forrest Legacy Award 2023

Tammy Gillham, RN, CCRN, TNCC, CDFH4 – Trauma/SICU/CVICUTammy was nominated by Carol Brizzolara. Tammy has been a registered nurse at UAMS for 37 years.  She began her nursing career in the critical care unit, the former SICU, on the 2nd floor in the Central Building.  Early on, she took on leadership roles in the SICU […]

Read more

Advancement of Nursing Practice Award 2023

Kristen Phonvilai, BSN, RN IV, RNC-NICNeonatal Intensive Care UnitKristen was nominated for her leadership in a quality improvement project. Thermoregulation is a keystone of neonatal care. Regardless of weight or gestational age, hypothermia at birth is a significant risk factor for mortality. Kristen has been involved in a quality improvement to decrease the incidence of […]

Read more

Want to read more stories like these?

View the Full List
UAMS Health LogoUAMS HealthUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Price Transparency

© 2025 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences