2003 Founders Award Winner

Fran has been in nursing for 31 years! In that time she has done much to earn the respect and admiration of her colleagues and patients. Fran has sought an ever-deeper knowledge base through nursing education and a variety of practice settings. Fran was nominated for the Founders Award by one of her surgeon colleagues, Dr. Peter Mattei. His praise for her was boundless. Among his accolades are the following quotes: [Fran is], “I believe, the epitome of what a pediatric surgical nurse practitioner should be...” [She] “continues to be the most energetic, tireless, and knowledgeable advocate for our pediatric patients and their families that we have and that most of us have ever known. Her compassion is unfailing and her sensitivity to the needs of the children and their parents is nothing short of amazing. She is selfless to a fault and the consummate team player... Her clinical judgment is always to be trusted – when Fran tells me my patient is ‘fine,’ I know I can relax, but when she tells me they’re ‘not quite right,’ I know I better worry...” Among her many talents and accomplishments, Dr. Mattei lists her role as a teacher, her annual organization of a nursing education conference specific to general pediatric surgery, the clinical initiatives and patient care protocols she has developed, her role in quality care studies, her role as mentor for nursing students and colleagues, and her numerous scholarly publications, including a chapter entitled “Preparing Children with Special Needs for Discharge” recently published in a pediatric surgery textbook. Dr. Mattei concludes “that Fran is an ideal candidate to represent APSNA and a supreme example of what the Association stands for.” Those of us who know Fran couldn’t agree more with Dr. Mattei. We would add, however, one tremendous accomplishment for which each and every APSNA member is grateful: her achievement of ANCC provider status for our national APSNA conference! Amongst a peer group of dynamos, Fran stands out, and is truly deserving of the 2003 APSNA Founders Award.