Recipients of the Lundbeck Neonatal Nursing Career Path Scholarship announced

Two nurses awarded Lundbeck Neonatal Nursing Career Path scholarships today

The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) is proud to announce the recipients of the Lundbeck Neonatal Nursing Career Path Scholarship. The program, made possible through a grant from Lundbeck Inc. (formerly Ovation Pharmaceuticals), supports clinical neonatal nurses who seek to advance their education and become neonatal nurse practitioners. Recipients Motria A. Lonchyna, BSN, RN of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Taryn M. Edwards, BSN, RNC at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will be awarded the scholarship today during NANN's annual meeting in Austin, TX. This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded.

"We are thrilled to award these scholarships to two deserving applicants," said Robin Bissinger, PhD, RNC, NNP, chair of the NANNP Council. "Neonatal nurse practitioners are an essential part of the neonatal healthcare system, and we are excited to have the support of Lundbeck Inc. to assist these highly-qualified nurses in reaching that goal. Each recipient demonstrated a strong commitment to the neonatal community and to improving the care of neonates, infants and their families."

Scholarship recipients were chosen by a special committee of NANN members who conducted a blind review process of all applications to ensure complete impartiality. After a thorough review and consideration of dozens of qualified, motivated and highly skilled nurses, Lonchyna and Edwards were selected as the recipients of the 2009 scholarships.

"Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often require highly specialized care. We at Lundbeck are committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families who, like many neonates and their families, are faced with serious and sometimes rare diseases," said Barbara Jackson, Vice President of the NICU and Hematology/Oncology Business Units at Lundbeck Inc. "We congratulate Motria and Taryn on being awarded these scholarships, and thank them for their dedication to the neonatal community."

Scholarship recipient Motria Lonchyna is a level two Registered Nurse (RN II) at Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC. She is also an Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Prisma (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy) specialist, bereavement certified, and a nursing preceptor. In her application, a colleague wrote that Lonchyna was "destined to make a difference."

Taryn Edwards is third level Clinical Nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is chair of the NICU Breastfeeding Committee, and a member of the Maternal-Child Health Leadership Academy. In addition, she serves on numerous other committees within her unit. As part of her application, a colleague wrote, "If I had a critically ill infant, I would want Taryn to be caring for my child."

The scholarship program was created in 2007 following the establishment of a new division within NANN dedicated to neonatal nurse practitioners. The initiative demonstrates Lundbeck's support of NANN's efforts to promote the quality of neonatal care, and to be an advocate for clinical and professional practice and advanced education.

Source: Edelman Public Relations