Tabor chair of nursing receives award for distinguished service
Tona Leiker, assistant professor of nursing and chair of the nursing department at Tabor College Wichita, received the 2004 Patricia A. Devine Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Award for distinguished service in the field of mental health nursing.
The award was given Oct. 14 during the Kansas State Nurses Association convention in Wichita.
"In my direct patient care positions, meeting the unmet needs of those suffering from mental illness and/or drug addiction was always a love of mine," said Leiker.
"From children in public education, to impaired nursing professionals, or addictions and psychiatric nursing practice, I have always believed human beings deserved the respect and dignity demonstrated to us through the life of Jesus Christ," she added.
Leiker was a school nurse in the Andover school district for eight years and became the lead nurse in 2002, one year before accepting her current position at TCW.
In addition to direct nursing care experience, Leiker had nursing education experience at the ADN and BSN levels and management experience in Behavioral Health Services at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita.
Leiker was appointed to the National Advisory Council Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. She also served on the Congress of Nursing Practice for the American Nursing Association in Washington, D.C. Leiker also served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Nurses Assistance Program and as president of both the National Nurses Society on Addictions and Kansas School Nurse Organization.
She received the Joyce W. Markendorf Excellence in School Mental Health Award in 2001 and the Nursing: The Heart of Healthcare Award in 1992.
