NDSCS Nursing faculty members Barb Diederick and Ruth Gladen have been named recipients of North Dakota Center for Nursing Legendary Nurse Awards.

­­Barb Diederick received a Legendary Nurse Award for Nurse Executive, which is presented for providing exceptional leadership in a top executive role for nursing. Diederick has taught in the NDSCS Nursing Department since 1980, and has served as the Nursing Department Chair since 2005.

Ruth Gladen received a Legendary Nurse Award for Faculty Achievement, which is presented for demonstrating excellence in teaching, engaging students in the love for nursing and supporting student growth. Prior to retiring from NDSCS in June of 2019, Gladen was the Registered Nursing Program Coordinator and primary instructor from 2005-2019.

Both Diederick and Gladen were instrumental in launching the Associate in Science in Nursing Registered Nursing program and the Associate of Applied Science Registered Nursing program. They are also both past recipients of the NDSCS Excellence in Teaching Award.

The North Dakota Center for Nursing Legendary Nurse Awards began in 2015 as a way to honor exemplary nurses across the state of North Dakota.