We are pleased to announce Lesley Kirkendall, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN as the 2019 recipient of the Barbara A. McLean – Contributions to Critical Care Nursing Award! Mrs. Kirkendall is a neurocritical care nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and she has received multiple certifications to advance her career (CNRN, CCRN, ENLS, and SCRN). Additionally, she is an active member in the Greater Memphis Area Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).  

Ms. Kirkendall plays an active role in the interprofessional team on a daily basis within her unit. She is also involved in multiple quality improvement projects, such as the ICU Liberation National Collaborative, and in the education of onboarding new neurocritical care nurses. Not only does Ms. Kirkendall serve as a leader within her organization, but she also gives back to her community by teaching Basic Life Support (BLS) to the 164th Tennessee Air National Guard and serves as a mentor for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) in the Memphis area.

While this does not include all of the roles and activities that Mrs. Kirkendall has accomplished, the dedication to her career and commitment to patient care that Mrs. Kirkendall exemplifies deserves to be recognized by this prestigious award!