Longtime College of Nursing faculty Nancy Renn to be honored with “Distinguished Lifetime Career in Nursing” award

POCATELLO - Nurse Leaders of Idaho will honor Idaho State University College of Nursing Interim Dean Nancy Renn with its most prestigious award in a ceremony on Sept. 13 in Boise.

The Nurse Leaders of Idaho is the Idaho affiliate organization of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and its members include chief nursing officers from acute care hospitals, deans and directors of schools of nursing and nurses who hold various leadership positions in Idaho.

Randall Hudspeth, Nurse Leaders of Idaho’s executive director, praised Renn’s lengthy career at ISU and her impact on nursing education, research and cooperative programs between universities. 

“More than once she has met the need for school leadership at ISU and served as a dean demonstrating stable, thoughtful and common-sense leadership,” Hudspeth said. “We are pleased to recognize her this year for her distinguished career.”

Renn grew up in Pocatello and graduated from the ISU Department of Nursing in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree. She worked as a staff nurse at Bannock Memorial Hospital and later served on the Board of Directors for Bannock and Portneuf Medical centers. She also worked at the South Idaho Public Health Department as a home health nurse and as a public health administrator.

 “My last and some of my best work was done at ISU where I have worked diligently to assure quality nursing education is provided to all nursing students,” Renn said. “I truly believe all of the work I have done over my career has not been work completed by one person, but work completed by many great colleagues who have worked side-by-side with me along the way. I would like to say thank you to the many good people who helped me accomplish the work that needed to be done.”

Rex Force, vice president for Health Sciences at ISU, said Renn has had an incredible career.

“She’s maintained such an enthusiasm for the profession of nursing, led the growth of the College of Nursing, and always stepped in to help whenever necessary,” Force said. “She’s ISU through and through, and we’ll miss her contributions.”

The College of Nursing will also host a celebration reception at 5 p.m. on Sept. 24, in the Helen Beckley Nursing Building Lobby. Anyone wishing to congratulate Renn on her retirement or her award is invited to leave their comments at kudoboard.com/boards/tFQnqojH. 

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