Two Suffolk-based nurses have been recognized by the Virginia Nurses Foundation for their commitment to and positive impact on the nursing field.

Jeff Doucette, the vice president of emergency services for Bon Secours Hampton Roads, and Hannah Anderson, the nursing program coordinator at Thomas Nelson Community College, were named to the foundation’s list of Top 40 Virginia Registered Nurses Under 40 years of age.

This is the first time VNF has given the awards, which recognize nurses who are positively representing their profession.

Doucette said he was surprised when he found out co-workers at Bon Secours had nominated him, and even more shocked when he found out he was chosen.

“I was so blown away by this,” he said. “It’s really quite an honor not only to be recognized by my peers, but the Virginia Nurses Foundation does so many great things to improve the image of nursing across Virginia; I’m incredibly humbled to be recognized by them.”

As the vice president of emergency services for the health system, Doucette is based at the Harbour View campus; however, he also serves as the interim chief nursing officer for Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News.

In selecting the recipients, the foundation looked for nursing leaders who exhibited vision, leadership, innovation, achievement, impact, growth, development and community involvement, according to a press release from the group.

Anderson, who lives in the Bennett’s Creek area, said she is thrilled to be part of the first group of honorees.

“I’m very honored that the committee selected me among all of those who were nominated,” she said. “I’m very pleased to receive the award.”

Her interest in nursing was ignited when she was an intern at a public health facility in her native St. Croix, Anderson said.

“Once I saw what nurses did, it just piqued my interest,” she said. “We’re present at birth and death, and we spend more time with patients than any other health professional.”

Like Anderson, Doucette’s passion for nursing originated when he witnessed nurses at work as an orderly at a Fredericksburg hospital.

“I was so blown away by all the technical skills of the nurses and all of the things they were expected to do,” he said.

Both Anderson and Doucette said they were more attracted to nursing because there are so many opportunities available for nurses.

Anderson said as a nurse educator she can prepare students to be great nurses and in turn have a wider impact on the lives of patients than she could as a bedside nurse.

“I feel I can touch more patients through the students I teach,” she said.

The Virginia Nurses Foundation will honor Doucette, Anderson and the other winners in Richmond on Saturday.