Do You Know a Pennsylvania Nurse Who is Amazing?
Does he or she: Enhance quality patient care? Exhibit excellence in the nursing process? Use exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills? Participate in community affairs? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
2020 Nomination Window Now Closed
We'll accept nominations again in March 2021.
We'll accept nominations again in March 2021.
Award CategoriesEach award recognizes exceptional nurses in the areas of:
Nurses can be nominated in only one category. See below for the descriptions of these award categories. |
Submitting a NominationHere's what you'll need to do:
Nominees must live (permanent address) and work in Pennsylvania. The awards are based on the demonstration of excellence in several areas, including how each nurse significantly influences the quality of patient care, creates a collaborative environment for the practice of nursing, models caring and compassion, and contributes to healing and health in the community. |
Selection Process - Reviewing Nominations
Once the nomination window closes, we have a team of reviewers who blindly scores the nominations and (up to) 3 finalists in each of the ten categories is identified. Those finalists are invited to attend the gala, where they will be honored, and the (top-scoring) winner in each category will be announced. Read more.
Once the nomination window closes, we have a team of reviewers who blindly scores the nominations and (up to) 3 finalists in each of the ten categories is identified. Those finalists are invited to attend the gala, where they will be honored, and the (top-scoring) winner in each category will be announced. Read more.
Award Category Descriptions
Clinical Practice
This award is given to a licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse and an advanced practice registered nurse. Nurses nominated for this award are recognized for providing outstanding quality of patient care, superior nursing clinical skills, and extraordinary compassion. Exceptional communication skills enhance their contribution to the health needs of the community while advancing the profession.
Awards to apply for are:
Nurse administrators nominated for this award are recognized for creating and sustaining supportive environments for the practice of nursing in challenging and diverse arenas. The nominees for this award initiate positive recruitment and retention strategies and support a model of professional practice in their organization through their leadership, innovation, mentoring and knowledge of the health care needs of their communities.
Nursing Administration - Leader/Manager
The emphasis is on a clinical practice leader/manager. An individual who influences the quality of patient care with a focus on infrastructure support and positive clinical outcomes.
Nursing Administration - Executive (CEO, CNO or Director Level)
The emphasis is on an upper level of nursing leadership and management. An individual who demonstrates visionary leadership, implements innovations, and promotes effective financial stewardship of operational human resources.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice Nursing
Nursing Research
Research is the foundation of current nursing practice and the basis for future nursing practice. Nominees for this award are committed to excellence in nursing practice through research. These nurse researchers receive grants and publish findings that enhance nursing practice, patient care, education, and science in the academic and clinical practice settings.
Doctorate of Nursing Practice
Curricula within the DNP framework, builds on traditional graduate programs by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas. Nominees for this award exhibit healthcare improvements and contributions via practice and clinical scholarship; demonstrate noteworthy involvement or influence in healthcare policy and advocacy; contribute to inter-professional collaboration and improve patient and/or population health; and significantly contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.
Nursing Education
The search for knowledge holds the promise for the future. Nurse educators nominated for this award demonstrate the ability to inspire nursing students and practicing nurses. They creatively stimulate students and colleagues to pursue knowledge and skills needed to practice nursing compassionately and effectively.
Nursing Education - Academia
The emphasis is on scholarly research and dissemination of research through education. An individual who is an inspiration to students and cultivates a supportive learning environment.
Nursing Education - Staff Development
The emphasis is on promoting evidence-based practices within a clinical setting. An individual who strives for clinical practice excellence and shares knowledge with others.
This award is given to a licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse and an advanced practice registered nurse. Nurses nominated for this award are recognized for providing outstanding quality of patient care, superior nursing clinical skills, and extraordinary compassion. Exceptional communication skills enhance their contribution to the health needs of the community while advancing the profession.
Awards to apply for are:
- Clinical Practice LPN
- Clinical Advanced Practice RN
- Nurse Midwives
- Nurse Practitioners
- Certified Nurse Anesthetists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Masters prepared nurses working in an advanced practice setting
- Clinical Practice RN
- Community Nursing RN or LPN
- Non-acute care, i.e. hospice/home care, parish nurse, school nurse
- Non-acute care, i.e. hospice/home care, parish nurse, school nurse
Nurse administrators nominated for this award are recognized for creating and sustaining supportive environments for the practice of nursing in challenging and diverse arenas. The nominees for this award initiate positive recruitment and retention strategies and support a model of professional practice in their organization through their leadership, innovation, mentoring and knowledge of the health care needs of their communities.
Nursing Administration - Leader/Manager
The emphasis is on a clinical practice leader/manager. An individual who influences the quality of patient care with a focus on infrastructure support and positive clinical outcomes.
Nursing Administration - Executive (CEO, CNO or Director Level)
The emphasis is on an upper level of nursing leadership and management. An individual who demonstrates visionary leadership, implements innovations, and promotes effective financial stewardship of operational human resources.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice Nursing
Nursing Research
Research is the foundation of current nursing practice and the basis for future nursing practice. Nominees for this award are committed to excellence in nursing practice through research. These nurse researchers receive grants and publish findings that enhance nursing practice, patient care, education, and science in the academic and clinical practice settings.
Doctorate of Nursing Practice
Curricula within the DNP framework, builds on traditional graduate programs by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas. Nominees for this award exhibit healthcare improvements and contributions via practice and clinical scholarship; demonstrate noteworthy involvement or influence in healthcare policy and advocacy; contribute to inter-professional collaboration and improve patient and/or population health; and significantly contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.
Nursing Education
The search for knowledge holds the promise for the future. Nurse educators nominated for this award demonstrate the ability to inspire nursing students and practicing nurses. They creatively stimulate students and colleagues to pursue knowledge and skills needed to practice nursing compassionately and effectively.
Nursing Education - Academia
The emphasis is on scholarly research and dissemination of research through education. An individual who is an inspiration to students and cultivates a supportive learning environment.
Nursing Education - Staff Development
The emphasis is on promoting evidence-based practices within a clinical setting. An individual who strives for clinical practice excellence and shares knowledge with others.
The Patient Choice Award
In 1999, to further recognize exceptional nurses caring for patients, the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania added another accolade, The Patient Choice Award. In the Spring of that year, a press release was issued asking patients to write a letter describing a nurse who has touched their lives or the lives of their families in an unforgettable way. One nurse was chosen from the many letters which were received.
Nominate a Special Nurse:
Write a letter, with no more than 500 words, and tell us about your beloved nurse. If your letter is selected, you'll have the opportunity to honor this special nurse at the Nightingale Gala. Your nurse will receive an acknowledgment never to be forgotten!
Tell us the name of your special nurse, her/his employer, your name, address, and phone number and submit your nomination online (preferred). NOMINATION WINDOW NOW CLOSED.
You also have the option to mail your nomination to:
Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, 2400 Ardmore Boulevard, Suite 302, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Please note that you are not permitted to nominate yourself or a member of your family. Only nominate ONE nurse within each submission, not a nursing unit or group of nurses.
Nominate a Special Nurse:
Write a letter, with no more than 500 words, and tell us about your beloved nurse. If your letter is selected, you'll have the opportunity to honor this special nurse at the Nightingale Gala. Your nurse will receive an acknowledgment never to be forgotten!
Tell us the name of your special nurse, her/his employer, your name, address, and phone number and submit your nomination online (preferred). NOMINATION WINDOW NOW CLOSED.
You also have the option to mail your nomination to:
Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, 2400 Ardmore Boulevard, Suite 302, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Please note that you are not permitted to nominate yourself or a member of your family. Only nominate ONE nurse within each submission, not a nursing unit or group of nurses.
