UNC Health Blue Ridge wins Best Practice Award at NC Nurses Convention

A nursing team from UNC Health Blue Ridge earned top honors at the North Carolina Nurses Association’s (NCNA) 118th annual convention, where they received the Best Practice Award: Caring for Others for developing a new system to improve emergency response to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

The Blue Ridge team introduced a color-coded card system to quickly and clearly assign roles during PPH emergencies, reducing duplication of effort and miscommunication. The results were dramatic: before the system, fewer than 8% of staff reported feeling “extremely confident” in managing PPH events; afterwards, confidence levels jumped by more than 60 points.

“This project reflects our commitment to maternal safety, staff empowerment, and community health,” said Michele Woods, MSN, RNC-OB, NE-BC, C-EFM, C-ONQS, FAWHONN, nurse manager of the Family Center at UNC Health Blue Ridge. “By clearly defining roles and responsibilities, we’ve built a more resilient and confident team, capable of delivering timely and compassionate care during critical moments.”

The award was presented during NCNA’s annual convention, which drew more than 500 nurses from across North Carolina to Winston-Salem last week. The convention remains one of the state’s most significant professional gatherings for nurses, blending recognition, training, and policy discussions.

CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

Hall of Fame Inductions:

G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN, was honored for leadership in national diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in nursing.

Pat Campbell, RN, MBA, was recognized for steering NCNA through a decade of growth and change.

Legislator of the Year:

Rep. Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba, was awarded for his long record of supporting pro-nursing legislation, including House Bill 514 on full practice authority for APRNs and support for the Surgical Smoke bill.

Leadership Transition:

Bonnie Davis Meadows of Belmont was sworn in as NCNA President for a two-year term. Meadows serves as Service Line Nurse Educator at Atrium Health.

“In a health care landscape that is constantly evolving, the role of the nurse is more important than ever,” Meadows said. “NCNA is vital to ensuring the nursing profession has a seat at the table when major practice and policy changes are being decided.”

The convention also spotlighted Valdese resident Chuck Dugan, who completed NCNA’s second cohort of the Diversity in Nursing Leadership Fellowship, further tying Burke County to statewide nursing leadership.

The NCNA annual convention, now in its 118th year, continues to serve as a platform for celebrating nursing excellence and strengthening the profession across the state.