• 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
      • 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
  5. Professional Nursing Awards
  6. Excellence in Nursing Education Award

Excellence in Nursing Education Award

A look at May 2025 Winner for the Excellence in Nursing Education Award

2025 Excellence in Nursing Education Winner:  Nathan Ernst, RN, from the Emergency Department

2025 Excellence in Nursing Education Winner: Nathan Ernst, RN, from the Emergency Department


Nathan Ernst, RN, Emergency Department

(summary of her nomination) Nathan recognized a need to address patients with difficult peripheral venous access who were either experiencing delays in care or were having central lines placed, which carry greater risk for infection. He developed and implemented a formal ultrasound IV course, partnering with leadership to make it accessible to bedside nurses across all shifts. The course includes a didactic presentation using evidence-based and best practice guidelines. Following the didactic portion, nurses immediately transition into hands-on learning, guided closely by the instructor. He continues to offer these sessions on a recurring basis to accommodate staff working day, evening, and night shifts.

The impact Nathan’s role in educating RNs about ultrasound guided PIV has been remarkable. The comfort and competence in placing ultrasound-guided IVs by ED RNs has dramatically increased and has led to decreased delays in delivering IV medications and fluids, and has reduced the need for central line placement. Nathan also mentors those who are applying these new skills at the bedside and continues to guide them in real time, supporting clinical development and promoting patient and family confidence. Nathan leads by example and promotes a culture of continuous learning, often being the person who initiates meaningful conversations with stakeholders to make improvements possible.


The Excellence in Nursing Education Award recognizes the work of outstanding nurses who show exceptional skill, innovation, and effectiveness in promoting education for nurses.  This outstanding nurse:

  • Serves as a role model/mentor by using best practices and incorporating an evidence-based approach in teaching
  • Facilitates communication regarding practice changes
  • Generously shares their experience and knowledge
  • Passionate about helping others be the best UAMS nurse they can be
  • Consistently provides education to patients and/or families
  • Inspires novice and seasoned nurses to pursue additional degrees/continued education, and specialties expertise

Nomination Requirements

  1. Nominee must be a registered nurse.
  2. Provides nursing/health education for patient and/or family, nurses and/or unit/area/clinic staff. Nominee does not have to be in a formal ‘educator’ role.

Nomination Process

  1. Complete online application below in its entirety relating to the nurse you are nominating. If you have any supportive information in the area provided in the nomination form, please attach it.  NOTE:  Nominations will not be accepted after the closing date. 
  2. The nominator may request, from the nominee, evidence of the nursing education provided to submit along with the application. This could include class evaluations, preceptor evaluations, emails, certificate of appreciation, CEUs of course taught, etc.

Selection Process

  1. Nominations, that meet criteria, will be blinded and reviewed by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will select winners based only on the information provided in the nomination and supportive information.
  2. Nominees who meet the criteria, as well as the selected winner, will be celebrated during annual Professional Nursing Awards ceremony.

Click here to view past nomination example.

Come back in January of 2026.

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