Oklahoma City – Nineteen registered nurses from OU Health have been recognized by The Great 100 Nurses Foundation on its 2024 list of exceptional nursing professionals in Oklahoma. These nurses provide their expertise and care at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, and OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center.
Individuals recognized span from across OU Health, representing nurses working in pediatric intensive care, oncology and obstetrics, as well as advanced practice providers and clinical specialists.
Honorees are: Jessie Gage; Christen Hickey; Michelle Lindsey; Christine Washington; Micayla Watkins; Carmen Taylor; Rachel Bostwick; Alyssa Gillespie; Samantha Crytzer; Vanessa McGuire; Tamara Vernon; Juanita Underwood; Kathy Shipley Horton; Michele Abbitt; Karen Genzel; Crystal Gomez; Deborah Wright; Rhonda Coleman-Mannix; and Esther Muntzinger Lacelles.
“I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our exceptional nurses for being named to the Great 100 Nurses Foundation list,” said OU Health Chief Nurse Executive Stefanie Beavers, DNP, R.N., NEA-BC. “This prestigious recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication and outstanding care our nurses provide every day.”
Established more than 30 years ago, the foundation has honored thousands of nurses across the south-central United States. Nominees are considered for recognition based on their demonstrations of concern for humanity, contributions to the profession and abilities shown in leadership and mentorship.
“These nurses’ commitment to excellence is perfectly aligned with our Nursing Professional Practice Model, which emphasizes the core values of OU Health,” said Beavers. “Our nurses embody these principles through their compassionate service, their pursuit of knowledge, and their dedication to improving the lives of those we serve. I am proud of these honorees and the work they do to set the standard for nursing excellence and patient care.”
OU Health’s nursing honorees will be recognized during the Great 100 Celebration on Sept. 24 in Tulsa. The funds raised through state celebrations are used not only to honor the nurses, but to also support nursing advocacy, nursing scholarships and nursing research for the betterment of lives, publication of nursing discoveries and the implementation of those discoveries.
