Black nominated for statewide nursing award

A Three Rivers Health employee was among the 10 nominees for this year’s Norman S. Holt Nursing Excellence Award, a statewide honor that highlights outstanding contributions to the nursing profession.

David Black joined the Three Rivers Health staff in November 2022 as a bedside nurse and now serves as its director of nursing, working in its hospital and emergency room.  

Black began his medical career in 2002 and worked for eight years as a paramedic on a ground ambulance and for five years as a flight paramedic. After graduating as a registered nurse in 2015, Black began working as a staff nurse in a high-volume Level 1 trauma center before joining the TRH staff.

The Norman S. Holt Nursing Excellence Award is presented annually to a nurse who exemplifies the highest standards of patient care, serves as a role model for colleagues, and advances the practice of nursing through dedication, leadership, and integrity.

“It is one of the most meaningful recognitions that a nurse can receive in Wyoming and we are incredibly proud that David has been selected for this honor,” Three Rivers Health said in a statement. “David’s commitment to his patients, his leadership within our nursing staff, and his tireless efforts to elevate the quality of care in our community make him very deserving of this award. He has been a mentor and advocate for both patients and staff, and this honor speaks to the positive impact he has made not just within our organization, but across the state.”

Black did not win the award — it was presented to Ann Clevenger, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, during the Wyoming Hospital Association’s recent annual meeting in Laramie — but a TRH spokesperson said Black is still worthy of recognition because he exhibits the qualities that the award celebrates.