The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence recently honored twenty-five nurses at the 2012 New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.

2012 New Mexico Nursing Excellence Award Recipients:

• New Mexico Distinguished Nurse of the Year - Marie A. Sauve, RN, MSN, FNP, nurse practitioner, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Advanced Practice - Diane J. Meitzler, RN, MSN, Hospice and Palliative Care Program coordinator, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Ambulatory Care - Lourdes Mendez-Rodriguez, RN,C, oncology nurse, Memorial Medical Center, Las Cruces
• Excellence in Behavioral Health - Deena Baer, RN, director of senior care unit, Artesia General Hospital, Artesia
• Excellence in Case/Quality Management/Managed Care/Informatics - Patricia Heinzman, RN-BC, CCM, nurse case manager, Presbyterian Medical Group/Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Community Service - Terri Gibson, RN, MSN, BSN, staff nurse, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Critical Care Nursing - Stephanie Sanderson, RN, MSN, CCRN, CSN, clinical nurse specialist, MICU, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Education/Research/Academia - Lauri Lineweaver, RN, MSN, CCRN-CSC, clinical education specialist, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Emergency Care - Tracy Cheshire, RN, BCEN, CVRN, TNCC, ASTNA, staff nurse, San Juan Regional Medical Center, Farmington
• Excellence in Home Health/Hospice Nursing - Lizabeth Gober, RN, BSN, BC-CHPN, CNNP, nurse supervisor, University of New Mexico Pediatric Hospital, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Long-Term Care/Rehabilitation - Yvonne Phay, RN, prospective payment system coordinator, Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Maternal-Child/Women's Health - Cheryl Cothern, RN, staff nurse, Childbirth Center, San Juan Regional Medical Center, Farmington
• Excellence in Medical/Surgical - Linda Conwell, RN, BSN, charge nurse, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Nurse Management/Emerging Leadership - Martha M. Snow, RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, AP, CARN, interim director of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque
• Nightingale Award - Valda Baca, RN, staff nurse, Pueblo of Isleta Health Center
• Excellence in Nurse Executive Leadership - Eric Peterson, RN,C, MSN, director of inpatient psychiatry, University of New Mexico Psychiatric Center, Albuquerque
• Outstanding Nursing Student - Adam Aranda, respiratory therapist, Presbyterian Healthcare Systems, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Perioperative Nursing - Sheila McLeod, RN, relief charge nurse/OR circulator, Lovelace Westside Hospital, Albuquerque
• Excellence in Rural Practice - Melecia C. Chavez, RN, staff nurse, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Gallup
• Excellence in School/Community/Public Health - Margaret E. Grady, RN, MSN, BSN, school nurse, Albuquerque Public Schools
• Touch a Life Award - Kristina Benavidez, RN, OCN, team leader, Memorial Medical Center, Las Cruces