Five emergency room nurses from Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC) have been named recipients of the 2026 Virginia Emergency Nurses Association (VENA) State Council Awards. The annual awards recognize six emergency nurses from across the state who demonstrate exceptional dedication to patient care, leadership, education, and service to the nursing profession. Recipients are nominated by colleagues, physicians, mentors, leaders, educators, and other healthcare professionals who have witnessed their impact on patients, peers and the profession.
The Riverside Health 2026 award recipients are:
- Clinical Excellence Award: Jessica Tutone
- Nurse Leader Award: Mary Haigh
- Emerging Professional Award: Manuel Garcia
- Nurse Educator Award: Christina Brown
- Bob Shumate Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award: Lou Ann Miller
“The recognition of five Riverside nurses with VENA State Council Awards is a testament to our culture of excellence and the extraordinary dedication of our emergency nursing teams. These honors reflect a shared commitment to exceptional patient care, continuous growth, and advancing the profession of nursing,” said Mary Haigh, Senior Director of Emergency Services at Riverside Regional Medical Center.
Award categories recognize excellence across several areas of nursing practice. The Clinical Excellence Award honors a nurse who exhibits outstanding clinical judgment and positively influences patient outcomes. The Nurse Leader Award recognizes a nurse leader who develops and fosters an environment where teamwork, safe patient care and professional development can thrive. The Emerging Professional Award is presented to a nurse who demonstrates exceptional promise and commitment early in their career. The Nurse Educator Award honors a nurse who advances the profession through teaching, mentorship, and professional development. The Bob Shumate Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a nurse whose career has been marked by sustained leadership, service, and contributions to emergency nursing.
“Emergency care is truly a team effort, and our nurses are at the heart of that work.” said Elena Garrett, M.D., Chief of Emergency Medicine at RRMC. “I have the privilege of working alongside these nurses every day and seeing firsthand the impact they make. Their compassion, clinical expertise, and commitment to their patients set a standard of excellence that inspires all of us.”
Awardees will be recognized at the annual VENA banquet on October 15, 2026 in Richmond, VA. To learn more about nursing at Riverside, please visit riversideonline.com.