VNF Innovation Awards

Virginia Nurses Foundation Announces 2025 Innovation Award Recipients

The Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Innovation Awards, two visionary initiatives designed to strengthen the mental health and well-being of nurses in their workplaces. Each project will receive $10,000 in funding to implement innovative, evidence-informed interventions supporting the nursing workforce.

“We believe that by supporting creative, evidence-informed approaches to mental health, we can empower nurses to thrive in their roles and, in turn, deliver better care to the communities they serve,” said VNF President Dr. Mesha Jones, DNP, RN, NEA-BC.

Launched with generous support from the Virginia Nurses Association, the Innovation Awards reflect a bold investment in solutions that address the urgent mental health needs of nurses. The 2025 recipients exemplify the creative, research-driven approaches needed to foster resilience, connection, and healing across the profession.

Supporting Nursing Students Through Immersive Empathy-Building
Project Lead: Dr. Melissa Gomes, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN – (Zip Code: 23664)
Institution: University of Virginia School of Nursing

Dr. Melissa Gomes (at left) and her team are piloting a transformative eight-week intervention using Extended Reality (XR) and Mixed Reality (MR) to help nursing students build resilience, develop empathy, and foster meaningful interpersonal connections. Students will engage in virtual modules focused on stress management, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and communication skills—addressing rising burnout rates among nursing students as they advance through their programs.

Preliminary data from a 2024 pilot demonstrated promising outcomes. One participant noted, “This gave me tools to improve my connections. I’ve been struggling since I moved here.” The initiative aims to offer a scalable, culturally inclusive model for addressing burnout early—empowering future nurses to thrive emotionally and socially in their training and beyond.

Healing Workshops for Forensic Nurses
Project Lead: Caitlin Yerkes, BSN, MPH, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P – (Zip Code: 22046)
Institution: Bluebird Way Foundation

Forensic nurses often experience secondary trauma due to the emotionally intense nature of their work. Caitlin Yerkes’ (at left) project introduces a year-long series of healing workshops across Northern Virginia, incorporating horticultural therapy and narrative medicine to reduce burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma.

Led by credentialed professionals, sessions will include mindfulness nature walks, art-based gardening activities, reflective journaling, storytelling, and shared meals—designed to create safe spaces for healing, reflection, and community connection. By grounding recovery in both nature and narrative, this integrative program supports long-term well-being and professional sustainability for nurses working on the front lines of trauma care.

A Strategic Investment in Nurse Mental Health & Well-Being
The 2025 Innovation Awards reflect VNF’s commitment to advancing mental health support across the full spectrum of nursing careers—from students to seasoned professionals.

“These projects exemplify the kind of innovative, collaborative thinking we need to support nurses in every stage of their journey,” said VNA President Dr. Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN. “From navigating the pressures of onboarding training to seasoned professionals coping with trauma exposure, these initiatives offer thoughtful, practical strategies for healing and connection. We’re excited to see their impact unfold.”

VNF congratulates Dr. Melissa Gomes and Caitlin Yerkes and looks forward to sharing their progress and the long-term impact of these important projects.

VNF hopes to continue our Innovations Awards in 2026 so please bookmark this page and stay tuned!