New Era for Academic Nursing Award

This inaugural award recognizes AACN member institutions that have successfully implemented recommended strategies from AACN's report Advancing Healthcare Transformation: A New Era for Academic Nursing. This award was presented for the first time at the 2017 AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference (formerly Fall Semiannual Meeting) in Washington, D.C.

The call for award applications will be announced in October 2021, with the nomination application packets due June 3, 2022.

• The academic nursing partnership demonstrates an innovative and sustained relationship that meets one of the following six New Era report recommendations: 1) Embrace a New Vision of Academic Nursing, 2) Enhance the Clinical Practice of Academic Nursing, 3) Partner in Preparing the Nurses of the Future, 4) Partner in the Implementation of Accountable Care, 5) Invest in Nursing Research Programs and Better Integrate Research into Clinical Practice, and 6) Implement an Advocacy Agenda in Support of a New Era for Academic Nursing. 

• The joint partnership exemplifies one of the following ideal six characteristics: 1) Shared Governance and Open Communication, 2) Alignment of Vision, Goals, and Strategy, 3) Supportive Resources and Infrastructure, 4) Integrative Research Programs, 5) Interprofessional Collaboration, and 6) Focus on Improved Community Health Outcomes.

• The exemplary partnership demonstrates positive outcomes that are measurable. 

• The strong partnership is currently in place and has future plans for sustainability.

The awards committee is looking for submissions that represent the full spectrum of AACN member institutions, including nominations from small schools and private schools. All nominations will be reviewed by an awards review committee and approved by the AACN Board of Directors. The review committee reserves the right not to recommend an award in any given year.

Schools may submit only one award nomination in any given year. 

The following materials must be uploaded with your online submission:

• 500-word summary of how your partnership’s collaborative work relates to at least one of the New Era report recommendations
• 500-word summary of how your academic-practice partnership exemplifies at least one of the six ideal characteristics 
• Organizational Self-Assessment Document [word doc]
• Recommendations and Outcomes Metrics Worksheet [word doc]

All nominations should be electronically submitted via the online application. 

The dean/director of the program receiving the award and the clinical practice representative will be recognized at the AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference and highlighted in AACN newsletters and press releases as well as on the AACN Web site. A plaque will be provided to both the dean and the practice partner.