Keesler nurse wins education award Published Nov. 20, 2010 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Maj. Amber Barker, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron, has received the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses 2010Award of Excellence in Education "for her commitment to educating patients and fellow health-care providers in an effort to improve patient health and the delivery of health care." The award was presented at the recent AWHONN national convention in Las Vegas. Major Barker is maternal child flight nurse manager and element leader. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the nurse manager and obstetrics educator at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, the Air Force's largest and busiest labor and delivery unit. The news release from AWHONN announcing the major's selection noted, "Seeing a deficit in their training program, Major Barker created an education program for her unit, which raised educational requirements compliance from 15 to 100 percent "In addition, she hosted the unit's first skills fair in over five years on a variety of topics ranging from newborn screening to postpartum hemorrhage Major Barker's training course has become an annual activity." Following her service in Iraq, Major Barker has been a regular speaker for a course educating nurses about selfcare and nursing care in a combat zone. AWHONN presents its Award of Excellence in Education to a member with an outstanding history of educating colleagues and others. Winners have made contributions to women's health, obstetric and neonatal nursing education, teaching and knowledge. AWHONN's Chief Executive Officer Karen Peddicord said, "Major Barker's dedication to improving the education of nurses has improved the lives of women and newborns all across the world. Her passion for education has greatly impacted the nursing profession and helps nurses continue to provide the highest quality care."