The Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) honored Johnathan B. Phillips, M.S.N., M.S.Ed., R.N., N.P.D.-B.C., of Martinsville, Virginia, with the 2020 Year of the Nurse Award on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
Phillips was one of 20 Registered Nurses (RNs) recognized at the Annual VNF Gala from more than 70 nominations. Selection was based on the premise that the nurses selected enhanced the image of professional nursing and rose to the unprecedented challenges facing the profession with compassion and respect during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nurses know the value of families, both in patient care and our own lives. I accept this award in recognition of the family members of all healthcare workers. They are exposed to whatever we bring home. They support our tears and laughter. They understand when we miss events and milestones. We simply answered a calling, but they assumed a very important role,” Phillips said.
“Finalists of this award truly embody the spirit of what it means to be a nurse leader. They are compassionate, driven, and determined to positively impact the nursing profession. They see a need for improvement in their community and go above and beyond to deliver lasting results. Whether they are long into their nursing career or newly graduated, these individuals are creating innovative patient solutions that will shape the nursing practice for years to come,” said VNF President Terris Kennedy.
An RN for 29 years, Phillips is employed by Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. He worked previously at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and Radford University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s degree in nursing from Old Dominion University, and a master’s degree in education from Radford University. He maintains certification in Nursing Professional Development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Phillips lives in Martinsville with his wife, Kim, and children, John Ainsley and Claudia Grace. He serves as secretary of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society Board of Directors and is a compatriot of the Colonel George Waller Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. He is a past president of the Martinsville Jaycees and the Patrick Henry Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
He is a former state vice president of the Virginia Jaycees and Clerk of Martinsville City Council. Appointed by the Virginia Department of Health Commissioner, he previously served as chair of the Virginia Advanced Practice Nurse Scholarship Committee.
There are currently 95,658 RNs in Virginia.
