Two Nursing Faculty Named Finalists for 2025 Nightingale Awards of PA
Two Gwynedd Mercy University faculty members have been named finalists for the 2025 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, one of the state’s most prestigious honors in nursing. Chosen from more than 150 nominations across 14 categories, the finalists represent the top tier of nursing professionals whose leadership and innovation are shaping healthcare in the Commonwealth.
Dr. Patricia Brown O’Hara, RN, PhD, professor of nursing and student support specialist in the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions, is a finalist in the Nursing Education – Academia category. For more than 20 years, Dr. Brown O’Hara has advanced nursing education through academic coaching, one-on-one student mentoring, and innovative clinical programs.
She played a central role in establishing GMercyU’s Dedicated Education Unit, a model that pairs select senior nursing students with preceptors in real-world clinical environments for full 12-hour shifts. More than 370 Senior Nursing students have participated since its inception in 2020, and notably, approximately 75% of participants received job offers at those clinical sites post-graduation.
Dr. Brown O’Hara also oversees the University’s Nursing Study Abroad Program in Ireland, one of the few opportunities of its kind for nursing students in the region.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be named a finalist for the Nightingale Awards. At GMercyU, we believe in supporting the whole student, academically, professionally, and personally,” said Dr. Brown O’Hara. “To be recognized for work that helps future nurses thrive, both in the classroom and at the bedside, is deeply meaningful.”
Dr. Dona Molyneaux, RN, PhD, professor of nursing, is a finalist in the Nursing Research category. Her work spans patient safety, infection control, trauma-informed care, and nurse-patient relationships. She has contributed to multi-site studies on early pressure injury detection and maternal and newborn safety, while also mentoring students and clinical nurses in research and evidence-based practice.
Dr. Molyneaux has guided numerous scholarly projects, many of which have influenced curriculum, practice standards, and patient care strategies.
“Nursing research is essential to improving outcomes and advancing our profession,” said Dr. Molyneaux. “I’m proud to contribute to a culture of inquiry that empowers nurses and students to ask important questions, explore evidence-based solutions, and ultimately improve patient care.”
“Having two of our faculty recognized as Nightingale Award finalists is an extraordinary distinction,” said Dr. Jane Tang, Dean of the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions. “Dr. Brown O’Hara and Dr. Molyneaux exemplify GMercyU’s commitment to preparing compassionate, skilled nursing professionals who are ready to lead in education, research, and patient care.”
Finalists will be honored, and winners announced, at the 36th Anniversary Awards Gala on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Hilton Harrisburg Hotel.