College of Nursing faculty member wins state award for excellence by national nurse practitioners association

Dr. Linda Steele, director of the family nurse practitioner and adult nurse practitioner concentrations in the East Carolina University College of Nursing, has been awarded the prestigious 2009 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners State Award for Excellence.

The award is given annually to a dedicated nurse practitioner in each state. The honor was announced during National Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 9-15.

“It recognizes Dr. Steele’s excellence and dedication to practice, both key elements of the success of our nurse practitioner options here at the ECU College of Nursing,” said Dr. Sylvia T. Brown, acting dean and professor.

Nurse practitioners are licensed, advanced practice nurses who provide high quality health care services in many settings such as health clinics, physician offices and hospitals. Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. Most have master’s degrees in nursing requiring advanced education and clinical training beyond registered nurse preparation, according to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Web site.

Steele will be recognized during the 2009 AANP National Conference to be held in June in Nashville, Tenn.

Steele, an associate professor at ECU, received her bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from Southern Illinois University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. She has been a certified adult nurse practitioner for 30 years and holds a post-master’s certificate in counseling.