NCSBN CEO Receives CAC Ben Shimberg Public Service Award

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Nov 11, 2013) -  National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) CEO Kathy Apple, MS, RN, FAAN, received the 2013 Ben Shimberg Public Service Award from the Citizen's Advocacy Center. She delivered the Ben Shimberg Memorial Lecture during the CAC annual meeting in Seattle on Oct. 29, 2013.

Named for Dr. Benjamin Shimberg, widely considered the "father" of accountability in professional and occupational licensing, Apple was awarded this honor "for promoting best practices in nursing regulation and motivating boards of nursing to regularly evaluate and improve their performance as protectors of the public interest." Shimberg served as the first chair of CAC's Board of Directors until his death in September 2003.

"I am both humbled and honored to receive this award, and I am grateful to NCSBN for providing an opportunity to have a positive impact on nursing regulation and public protection," Apple commented.

Serving as NCSBN CEO since June 2001, Apple brings more than 35 years of nursing and regulation experience to her position. Prior to her tenure at NCSBN, Apple served as executive director of the Nevada State Board of Nursing, and as director-at-large and vice president on the NCSBN Board of Directors. Apple holds a Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Nevada, Reno, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Alaska and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University, Long Beach. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellow Alumni, a Fellow of American Academy of Nursing and is credentialed by the American Society of Association Executives as a certified association executive.

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 16 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 3 million licensed nurses, the second largest group of licensed professionals in the U.S.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
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