Luke nurse receives 2011 March of Dimes award Published Oct. 14, 2011 By Senior Airman Myra Dougharty 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, along with the University of Phoenix, recently presented the Nurse of the Year Award winners through the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes Arizona Chapter is just one of many nationwide. Candidates in 13 categories were nominated by their patients, peers and administrators. Maj. Nancy Johnson, 56th Medical Support Squadron and Scottsdale Healthcare clinical supervisor nurse transition program, was awarded the Chamberlain College of Nursing Phoenix Clinical Education Award. For the past eight years, Chamberlain College has sponsored the Clinical Education Award that is open to nurses in every specialty area across Arizona. "The outcome I'm most proud of is the mentoring, influence and professionalism imparted to new registered nurses who are eager to learn, be mentored and grow in their nursing careers," Johnson said. "I feel we have an obligation as a profession and as RN educators to impart our knowledge, experiences and skills to the next generation of nurses." The ceremony also brought awareness to the significant nursing shortage throughout Arizona and supporting future nurses through scholarship funds. Since the event's origin, the March of Dimes has presented more than $140,000 in scholarship funds to Arizona-based nursing colleges. "I feel we need to groom and grow our nurses not only because of the nursing shortage in the nation, but because our patients deserve quality and safe nursing care," Johnson said. "This is what I strive for each of my grads to achieve - and they do."