Dr. Randilyn Lewis, assistant professor or nursing at PennWest Clarion and an educator for UPMC Northwest, was honored with the Cameos of Caring Award in the Nurse Educator category during a Nov. 8 gala at David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.

Launched in 1999 as a tribute to outstanding bedside nurses in acute care hospitals, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s Cameos of Caring Program and Awards Gala has evolved into a broader celebration of excellence across the diverse realms of nursing, including research and education.

The Nurse Educator category was added in 2006 and acknowledges exceptional faculty, emphasizing the crucial role expert nurse educators play in shaping the future of nursing through high-quality instruction.

Lewis’ career in nurse education began in 2018 at then-Clarion University’s Venango Campus. Initially a part-time clinical instructor for nursing fundamentals and medical-surgical nursing, Lewis soon assumed obstetrical and neonatal clinical instruction in the associate and bachelor of science in nursing programs. She progressed to teaching theory courses in fundamentals of nursing, maternal child health, and pediatric-focused content in both ASN and BSN programs.

Last year, Lewis was awarded a $1.18 million federal grant to lead, create and instruct a graduate-level program that trains registered nurses in response to survivors of sexual violence. She established the combined SANE-A/SANE-P program at PennWest, which stands out because it trains for certification in both adult/adolescent and pediatric treatment; programs typically train nurses for one or the other.

“The importance of a nurse educator is simply to guide those who aspire to care for others in their time of need and vulnerability. I find becoming a nurse is a calling and an art form,” she said. “My peers and I always remark on how students in the first week of classes focus on simply performing a blood pressure. Then, as the semester progresses, their eyes light up when they've connected the science to the art of nursing.”

She considers it an honor to instruct, guide and mentor others in this profession.

“Being given the opportunity to shape nurses at Pennsylvania Western University is my legacy,” Lewis said. “I feel strongly that it takes one person to show up, to push you, to believe that you are capable, and to listen and create space for your life and goals to take hold.”

Lewis’ nomination came from a colleague and multiple students who remarked on her belief in them when they did not believe in themselves. When her students feel overwhelmed, she tells them to take a breath and say to themselves, “I'm not only a good nurse, but I'm also a great nurse, and I can do this.”

“The Cameos of Caring Award is recognition not only for me and my work, but for PennWest. It is a way of saying we do exceptional work here, and the faculty are all worthy of this recognition,” Lewis said. “I want current and future students to know that their faculty are dedicated to their success. I, like many, pride myself in going above and beyond to make their aspirations a reality.”

Lewis holds ASN and BSN degrees, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in nurse executive and leadership. She completed PennWest’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, during which she discovered her passion for trauma-informed nursing practice. She is currently a student in Duquesne University’s post-master’s degree in forensic nursing program.

“I chose this so I could become more for my future students and patients,” Lewis said. “I graduate this spring.”

Lewis is also a practicing registered nurse in the UPMC health system, serving as a clinical education specialist.

“I coordinate nurses through their orientation and specialize in obstetrics, neonatal level II NICU, post-surgical and pediatric floors, as well as focused sexual assault nurse examiner responsibilities,” she said “It's an honor to assist them in their pre-licensure journey and then watch them flourish through their aspirations of professional advancement.”

Lewis and several students were featured in a Cameos of Caring awardee video that played during the gala and is posted to the organization’s national website.

“I hope to inspire nurses for generations to embrace empathy and compassion and to fall in love with the idea of caring for all those who entrust you in their care,” Lewis said.