Each year, the Oklahoma Nurses Association proudly recognizes outstanding nurses and nursing advocates whose dedication, compassion, and leadership elevate the nursing profession. This year’s award recipients embody the very best of what it means to be a nurse and an advocate, serving with heart, advocating for others, and leading with integrity. Whether they realize it or not, these exceptional individuals are making a lasting impact on the lives of their patients, their colleagues, and the broader healthcare community. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and the inspiration they bring to us all.

This year, in addition to the ONA Excellence in Nursing Awards, we are proud to honor several Legislative Heroes whose visionary leadership and commitment has profoundly and fundamentally transformed the future of health care delivery in Oklahoma. By leading the way, championing House Bill 2298, these legislators helped to create a transition to practice for APRNs that removes costly physician oversight of APRN prescriptive practice, improving access to quality care for all Oklahomans. Every one of our chosen legislators played a significant role in making this historic step possible. We thank each of them for their vision, their courage, their support of nurses and their dedication to strengthening health care in our state.

(Recipients are listed in order of their photograph, from left to right.)

• Excellence in Nursing: Education 
Tammy Hanks, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, NEA-BC, EBP-C, CNOR, 
Perioperative Practice Specialist
• Excellence in Nursing: 
Direct Patient Care
Marlene Beaty, DNP, APRN-CNP, FNP, AGACNP
• Excellence in Nursing Administration
Stefanie Beavers, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
• Nursing Research Award
Amy Hutchens, PhD, RN
• Friend of Nursing
Issac Washburn, MD
• Voice of Nursing
Vickie Rankin-White, Lobbyist
• Legislative Heros
  • Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert
  • Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton
  • Rep. Cindy Roe Chair of House
  • Public Health Committee
  • Sen. Paul Rosino Chair of Health and Human Services Committee
  • Rep. Scott Fetgatter Tribal & External Affairs