Deadline for nominations: March 15, 2027.
King County Nurses Association presents annual Shining Star Awards to nurses who demonstrate excellence in their areas of practice or contribute significantly to the nursing profession or within the community.
Recipients must be a member of King County Nurses Association.
Awards will be presented in spring at the Annual Gala. Once eligibility has been verified, we will contact you with more in-depth questions about the nominee.
We are pleased to honor the KCNA 2026 Shining Star Awards! Join us in celebrating these exceptional nurses who have made considerable contributions to the King County nursing community:
Edna Cortez, RN is a recovery room nurse at Seattle Children’s and has served as a WSNA local unit
co-chair for over 25 years. She sits on the WSNA board, chairs their Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare, and is active in numerous union councils. She also serves on the Washington Center for Nursing board and committees focused on finance, equity and critical gaps. In addition, Edna currently serves on the KCNA board and our Nominating Committee.
A proud advocate for diversity, she supports Filipino and Asian Pacific American nursing communities. Edna has a long history of standing up for nurses and making a difference. “Edna is committed to Washington State, leading our nurses on issues of labor and diversity,” said Nancy Wilder, RN, BA, president of KCNA.
We are honored to present Edna Cortez with a 2026 Shining Star Award. Congratulations!
Dr. Jamie Shirley is a Teaching Professor at the UW Bothell’s School of Nursing & Health Studies. She also holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the UW School of Medicine.
Dr. Shirly is Chief of the Ethics Consultation Services at UW Medical Center-NW and a clinical ethics consultant at the UWMC-Montlake. She co-designed the Certificate in Guardianship program offered by UW Professional and Continuing Education. Her work centers around health care ethics and policy. She received her education from the UW, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University. “Dr. Shirley has inspired many nurses to think about the role of nursing in a broader context...she continues to lead on issues related to nursing practice, ethics, social justice, and professional advocacy,” said Justin Gill, DNP, RN, ARNP, president of WSNA and a former student of Dr. Shirley.
We are proud to honor Dr. Jamie Shirley with the 2026 KCNA Shining Star Award!
The MentorLink project provides opportunities for new nurses and experienced nurses to connect, share and learn.
KCNA offers continuing nursing education and other events. Explore self-nurturing practices.
