The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) presented Brenda French, MSN CRRN VHA-CM, with the 2013 ARN Educator Role Award. French received her award at the 39th Annual ARN Educational Conference, held October 2-5 in Charlotte, NC.
The Educator Role Award recognizes a nurse who has contributed to the advancement of rehabilitation nursing care through an academic or educational role. French works as the Polytrauma Nurse Educator at McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, VA, and has been an ARN member for 5 years.
French has been an active nurse educator for 25 years, during which she coordinates a monthly polytrauma journal club, teaches online nursing courses and serves on various committees and workgroups. French has also been very involved in ARN, coordinating an annual CRRN review course and serves as a reviewer for the Rehabilitation Nursing journal.
"As a member of the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Field Advisory Committee, she serves as a national advocate for veterans and their family/caregivers, where the veteran has sustained severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, amputation, visual impairment, spinal cord injury and so forth. Brenda's advocacy is apparent in her extensive educational programs, involvement in numerous national committees and programs and her staunch support for specialty certification," says Mary Sue Biggins, MBA BSN RN CRRN, in her nomination of French for the award.
Using simulations in nursing education to optimize learning outcomes