SPOKANE, Wash. — Margaret Bruya, associate dean for health services, professor and co-founder of People’s Clinic for the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing, was recently awarded the State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
The award recognizes a nurse practitioner in a state that demonstrates excellence in practice, research, nurse practitioner education or community affairs. Bruya was recognized for her exceptional contributions during an awards ceremony Sunday (June 29) during the Academy’s Annual National Conference underway June 29-July 2 in Anaheim, Calif.
“This honor recognizes all who have made it possible for me to have become the practitioner, colleague and personal side of who I am today,” said Bruya. “The strong support of my parents my husband, prior faculty, student and professional and personal colleagues has been invaluable and much appreciated over the past 25 years of my career. I believe that no matter what you accomplish, others have been there to help.”
Bruya was also a presenter at the conference. Her topic, “Development of An Academic Nursing Center,” related to the establishment of People’s Clinic in 1998. This nurse-managed clinic provides primary care to children and families in the Spokane region who are unable to access affordable health care. From the initial 28 patients seen in the first month (September 1998), the clinic and its multiple outreach sites, including a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, now reach more than 350 persons each month.
People’s Clinic is a model for other nurse-managed academic nursing centers. The presenters will describe the pitfalls and pleasures of providing primary care to a special population. Co-presenters include Charlene Clark, associate dean for instructional resources and extended college activities, and Delores Reyes-Gonzales, clinic and outreach nursing services manager for People’s Clinic.
Bruya has been at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing for 24 years serving in a variety of roles including as a professor on the graduate faculty, as a practicing nurse practitioner at People’s Clinic and has recently been named to the new position of assistant dean for health services.
Bruya is active in local, state and national health care organizations. She served on the Washington State Quality Assurance Commission as a reviewing board member for 14 years. She is currently a board member of Spokane Mental Health, and a member of Sigma Theta Tau. A prolific writer and researcher Bruya has co-authored four books and numerous book chapters, other publications, as well as referred and non-refereed journal articles.
She has earned numerous honors and awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Award at the College of Nursing in l998; Spokane YWCA Leader Award for recognition of teaching, scholarly activities and service; and a Course Excellence Award for Research from the Delta Chi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. She was chosen as the first recipient of the University of Washington School of Nursing’s Distinguished Alumna in l983. Most recently, she was awarded the Loretta C. Ford Leadership Award from the Springhouse Corporation, in conjunction with the publication of the journal, The Nurse Practitioner. Bruya earned a doctorate in nursing science from Boston University and a master’s degree in physiological nursing and bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington.
The AANP, founded in 1985, is the largest, full-service national professional organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties. With more than 15,000 individual members and 80 group members, AANP represents the interests of approximately 75,000 nurse practitioners around the country. For more information about AANP, visit the Web site at www.aanp.org.
Established in 1968, the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing is the nation’s first, oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium. The College of Nursing offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through its four consortium partners: Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University and Whitworth College. Each year, the college educates more than 600 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other educational institution in the state. For more information about the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing, visit the college Web site at nursing.wsu.edu.
Editor’s note: A biography and photograph of Dr. Margaret Bruya can be found at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing Web site located at www.nursing.wsu.edu/people/bruya.htm.
