Celebrating
Oregon's Nurse
Preceptors
Guiding the Next Generation. Strengthening the Workforce.
Nurse preceptors play a pivotal role in workforce development — providing clinical orientation, professional mentorship, and real-world guidance to students, new hires, and transitioning nurses. The Oregon Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Awards honor those who go above and beyond in shaping the skills, confidence, and belonging of others.
Preceptors aren’t just mentors — they are multipliers of excellence. By supporting them, we strengthen retention, resilience, and the overall health of Oregon’s care systems.
Oregon's Outstanding Preceptor Award
Who Can Be Nominated
Registered Nurses in Oregon who serve as formal or informal preceptors in academic, acute, community, or long-term care settings.
Why It Matters
Preceptorship is a key strategy in transition-to-practice success, supporting recruitment, skill development, and nurse well-being.
Recognition Details
The 2025 Outstanding Nurse Preceptors were recognized during Nursing Professional Development Week on September 17, 2025
Nominate a Nurse Preceptor
Each year, the Oregon Center for Nursing spotlights excellence in mentorship through the Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Awards. Do you know a nurse who exemplifies preceptor leadership — someone who lifts others up, offers thoughtful guidance, and helps nurses succeed during critical transitions? We want to hear from you.
The 2026 nomination period will open on June 1, 2026. During this time, we encourage colleagues, supervisors, educators, and community members to recognize the preceptors who make a difference in Oregon’s nursing workforce.
Nominations are reviewed anonymously by a selection committee. Please focus your submission on the quality of the nominee’s 250-word narrative impact. Honorees will be announced during Nursing Professional Development Week in September 2026.
Celebrating Oregon’s Nursing Community
The Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Awards recognize the wide impact of preceptors across the state. While we do not collect individual demographic information, we highlight diversity through practice settings, credentials, experience levels, and geography. Our goal is to honor the many different ways nurse preceptors strengthen Oregon’s workforce and support the next generation of nurses.
Meet Our 2025 Outstanding Nurse Preceptors
Mathew Sikes
BSN, RN
Sky Lakes Medical Center
Felix DeVries
RN
Providence Milwaukie Hospital
Michelle Widner
RN
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center
Matt Jones
BSN, RN Certified Preceptor
St. Charles Medical Center
Jennifer Rhodes
RN
Legacy Good Samaritan
Capella Lapham
DNP, FNP
Coastal Healthcare & OHSU SON
Lori Simmons
DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Grants Pass Pediatrics
Joe Brinkman
MSN, RN, CNOR
Peace Harbor Hospital
Chelsea Michielsen
DNP, FNP
Bridgeport Family Medicine
Nicole Frager
BSN, RN
OSHU
Stephanie Merritt
BSN, RN
Bay Area Hospital
Zane Smith-Lundy
BSN, RN, CEN
OHSU SON & Grande Ronde Hospital
Aminta Hall
LPN
Kaiser Permanente
Stephanie Hane
RN
Legacy Health System
Darwin Ang
BSN, CCRN
OHSU
Kyle Anderson
LPN
Oregon State Hospital
Kate Panum
BSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM
PeaceHealth Riverbend
Megan Romero
BSN, RN, CMSRN
Sky Lakes Medical Center
Jared Brown
BSN, RN
Terwilliger Plaza, Assisted Living Division
Kalli Young
BSN, RN
Willamette Valley Medical Center
Watch the 2025 Virtual Award Ceremony
The Oregon Outstanding Nurse Preceptor Awards recognize Oregon-based RNs who serve as preceptors — guiding and supporting others through clinical transitions and early-career milestones. This recognition helps strengthen nurse retention, well-being, and the development of a more prepared and supported nursing workforce across Oregon.