In 2022, the Nurse of the Year award was renamed to honor Julie Adkins, who sadly passed on February 5, 2022. Julie spent 50 years working as a nurse. Since 2001 she worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner and owned a Primary Care Clinic in Frankfort, Illinois. 

Awarded to licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, the Nurse of the Year award represents the legacy of Julie Adkins. 

What it Takes to Be Nurse of the Year

There are a number of requirements to be considered for the Julie Adkins Nurse of the Year award. Wamaitha Sullivan represents the legacy of Julie Adkins through her exemplification of these ideals:

Award Criteria:

• Represents APRNs as a role model for ISAPN
• Actively participates in the ISAPN board or serves on one or more committees
• Presents new ideas and follows through on them to advance ISAPN
• Has taken a leadership role in ISAPN
• Is a current member in good standing of ISAPN

Wamaitha Sullivan: 2023 Nurse of the Year

Wamaitha Sullivan is a Nurse Practitioner at Safeworks in Urbana, Illinois. She takes on an active and leadership-inspired role with ISAPN, and always brings the best qualities of herself to her role in healthcare. 

“Winning the Julie Adkins Member of the Year award was a humbling experience. It helped me reaffirm the value of teamwork, collaboration, dedication, and the incredible community support I've been privileged to be a part of as an ISAPN member. Knowing that ISAPN recognizes hard work and community contributions gives me great pleasure and satisfaction. I am reminded that I have a whole team of APRNs holding my hands through my journey as a caregiver. I have achieved this award with the help and support of every ISAPN member.  We are a team, and we will achieve great things together.”

Wamaitha’s nomination statement outlines just what makes her the 2023 Julie Adkins Nurse of the Year: 

"I am pleased to nominate Warmaitha Sullivan for the 2023 Julie Adkins Member of the Year Award. She has actively participated on the board and eagerly volunteered for additional duties. She has presented at the Midwest Conference and in the APRN to APRN calls, displaying her phenomenal speaking abilities and passion for self-care. As East Central Region Chair, she has consistent meetings, and during the meetings, she ensures that all present feel welcomed and are aware of the organization’s upcoming events. Wamaitha displays the true qualities of an ISAPN member; welcoming, engaged, and a true leader. It has been a pleasure to serve alongside her as she is an asset to the organization."

ISAPN: Celebrating Legacy and Achievements 

ISAPN is proud to have members like Wamaitha Sullivan. As an active member of our organization, she expertly represents the legacy of Julie Adkins, embodying her ideals and helping to advance ISAPN's cause. 

Congratulations to Wamaitha on winning the 2023 Julie Adkins Nurse of the Year award!

Join ISAPN and become a part of a network of nursing professionals dedicated to advancing the nursing profession. Together, we can build on the hard work and legacy of individuals like Julie Adkins and celebrate the accomplishments of leaders like Wamaitha Sullivan.