Lynnae Elliotte, MSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, is the 2026–2027 recipient of the Margaret L. McClure Scholarship from Nurses Educational Funds (NEF), an honor recognizing her exceptional leadership, lifelong service to the profession, and commitment to advancing nursing practice.

Lynnae began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania State University in 1988. She later completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing and Healthcare Education at the University of Phoenix in 2008. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Phoenix, where her scholarly project focuses on implementing a perioperative prewarming protocol to improve intraoperative normothermia in spinal fusion surgeries.

Her nursing journey began in high school, where she served as a candy striper and later worked in dietary services delivering patient trays. She loved interacting with patients and soon joined a Medical Explorers club, which offered hospital visits and educational sessions, including a memorable visit to a cadaver lab, which sparked her fascination with the human body. That experience solidified her calling to become a nurse.

Over the course of her distinguished career, Lynnae has served in nearly every major nursing role, including home health aide, patient care technician, staff nurse, charge nurse, preceptor, clinical nurse coordinator, educator, nurse manager, and director of nursing. Her clinical specialties span medical‑surgical, telemetry, cardiac care, critical care, and post‑anesthesia nursing, reflecting a broad and deep foundation of expertise.

She currently serves as the Director of Nursing, Professional Practice Programs – Magnet Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she leads the organization’s Magnet recognition and redesignation efforts, advances professional practice standards, coordinates nursing recognition events, and supports structures that elevate nursing excellence across the enterprise.
Lynnae’s professional contributions extend beyond the hospital. She is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) instructor (since 2012), a certified group fitness instructor (since 2016), and a certified Jazzercise instructor (since 2020). She also participates in monthly blood pressure screenings for her church community, providing education on hypertension management, diet, and lifestyle modification.
Her DNP project and doctoral education will expand her ability to influence systems‑level change, strengthen perioperative safety, and advance evidence‑based practice across complex health systems. The degree will position her for future roles in executive nursing leadership, academic‑practice partnerships, and national specialty organizations.
Receiving the Margaret L. McClure Scholarship is a profound honor for Lynnae. It affirms her dedication to the profession, supports her scholarly advancement, and fuels her mission to elevate nursing practice, mentor emerging leaders, and continue shaping the future of nursing.