FON Announces 2018 Nursing Excellence Award Winners

Valarie Clark Worthy, MSN, RN; Jennifer Loftis, MSN, RN, AOCNS, NEA-BC; and Victoria Poillucci, MSN, MEd, ACNP-BC

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 fifty nine nurses were nominated for 2018 awards. Of those nominated, 36 have been selected to be recognized. This year’s award recipients include three oncology nurses:

Edward & Florence O’Keefe Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice
Valarie Clark Worthy, MSN, RN, Manager, Patient Navigation
Duke Cancer Institute

Evelyn Morgan Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice
Jennifer Loftis, MSN, RN, AOCNS, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh 

Nurse Research Mentor Award
Victoria Poillucci, MSN, MEd, ACNP-BC, Advanced Practice Lead, Medical Oncology
Duke Cancer Center Raleigh

Award recipients will be recognized at the Friends of Nursing Annual Gala (semi-formal) on Saturday, Oct. 27, 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, buffet dinner, then DJ and dancing. 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.