ANA-Illinois recognizes a nurse whose commitment to advocacy, innovation, and empowering others demonstrates the extraordinary influence of the nursing profession. Aric Shimek, MSN, RN, CPN At the 2026 Professional Issues Conference, Aric Shimek was honored with the Nurse Influencer Award, a recognition celebrating nurses whose leadership, advocacy, and contributions have made a meaningful impact on…
More Than a Game: Meet Innovation Award Winner Veronica Bigott
How one nurse’s creative approach to time management is helping newly licensed nurses build confidence and succeed in clinical practice. Veronica Bigott, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, MEDSURG-BC, GERO-BC, NPDA-BC Innovation in nursing doesn’t always begin with groundbreaking technology or a major research initiative. Sometimes, it starts with recognizing an everyday challenge and finding a creative way…