FON Announces 2017 Nursing Excellence Award Winners

Since 1998, the DUHS Friends of Nursing (FON) Program has championed the careers and professional development of more than 1,000 Duke University Health System nurses. Each year Friends of Nursing hosts an annual gala in which “extraordinary” nurses from throughout the health system are recognized and awarded educational scholarships.

Two hundred and thirteen nurses were nominated for 2017 awards. Of those nominated, 36 have been selected to be recognized. This year’s award recipients include three oncology nurses:

Evelyn Morgan Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice
Susan D. Bruce, MSN, RN, OCN, AOCNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Duke Cancer Center Raleigh

Duke Regional Hospital Auxiliary Award
Linda Martin, RN
Clinical Nurse IV, Neurology/Oncology Unit 5-3
Duke Regional Hospital

Edward & Florence O’Keefe Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice
Danielle Raya, RN, OCN
Clinical Nurse IV, Radiation Oncology Clinic
Duke Cancer Center

Award recipients will be recognized at the Friends of Nursing Annual Gala on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Since its inception, the Friends of Nursing has supported the careers and professional development of Duke nurses, recognizing their accomplishments, advancing professional development and furthering education. The Friends of Nursing Program sponsors seminars and educational programs, funds scholarships for nursing education, financially supports learning and research dissemination and recognizes outstanding nursing practice. 

The FON Gala begins at 5 p.m. with a reception, followed by an awards ceremony and dinner buffet. The Durham Convention Center is located at 301 West Morgan St., in Durham. For more information on the Friends of Nursing Program, the annual gala and FON Excellence Awards, go to Friends of Nursing Program. To register for the gala, please visit Friends of Nursing Gala.