Nancy Denke, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, FAEN, CEN, CCRN, of Arizona
Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award
Nancy Denke, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, FAEN, CEN, CCRN
Recognizes excellence as a nurse practitioner in emergency care. The NP is recognized by nursing and physician colleagues, and patients, as a clinical expert who delivers compassionate, competent care. The recipient is actively involved in promoting the role of NPs and strengthening the image of NPs in emergency care.
Toxicology nurse practitioner Nancy Denke delivers expert care, compassion and knowledge to her patients and to her colleagues. She regularly engages other nurses, paramedics and techs in impromptu education on topics such as symptom recognition or current street drugs. She also serves as a mentor and delivers formal presentations on case studies. Denke developed a practice toolkit for NPs and templates on topics including patients experiencing alcohol or opioid withdrawal or needing rattlesnake bite treatment. She models nonjudgmental care for patients, particularly those dealing with substance use disorders.
She is the Journal of Emergency Nursing section editor for pharmacology/toxicology and has served on ENA’s Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice Advisory Council and the Academy of Emergency Nursing board. Denke has been extensively involved with the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Denke, who earned her DNP from Arizona State University, also works with the state board of nursing scope of practice committee, and she successfully advocated for a regional health care system to change its bylaws to allow APRNs to practice to their fullest extent as defined by the state.