Connie Nixon, R.N. has gained the admiration, respect and love of not only the children we care for but also their parents, and those who have worked with her for the 21+ years at the University of Florida.
Nurse Connie is the driving force behind the American Heart Association’s Boggy Creek Camp for Children with Heart Disease. She worked tirelessly to establish and promote the cardiology patient week at Boggy Creek Camp and plays a pivotal role in recruiting patients to attend the camp by working with the American Heart Association (AHA), Florida Affiliate, to raise funds to pay for our patients to attend the camp.
Since 1995, Nurse Connie has attended the Boggy Creek Camp week for cardiac patients as the Cardiac Nurse Specialist. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Boggy Creek Camp. In 2002, she received the AHA, Florida Affiliate Advocacy Volunteer of the Year award. In 2004, she received the Boggy Creek Camp staff award for excellence, and in 2005, she received the AHA, Florida Affiliate Special Service Award.
Nurse Connie’s community advocacy on behalf of all children far exceeds her work with either our patients or with Boggy Creek Camp. For example, it was entirely at her initiative that, with the support of AHA, Florida Affiliate, all schools in Alachua County became equipped with automatic cardiac defibrillators.
Nurse Connie has served as coordinator for numerous nursing conferences, for American Heart Heroes Regional Family Conferences and, as staff support, for physician-directed cardiology conferences. She has served as study coordinator for at least six clinical research trials directed by faculty in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology and the Division of Neonatology at the University of Florida.
The faculty and staff at the Congenital Heart Center and the Department of Pediatrics recognized Connie with the Beverly Millard Award of Excellence in March 2011 for her commitment and dedication to the University of Florida, a fitting tribute to her outstanding service. Our patients and families consider Nurse Connie a central figure of our Center. Everyone knows her by name and looks for her when they come to our facilities.
Thank you, Nurse Connie, for your devotion to the welfare of the children and families served by the UF Congenital Heart Center!