DAISY Award for PPDs

celebrating EXtraordinary PPds - you!

The DAISY Nurse Leader Award for PPDs celebrates exemplary Pathway Program Directors (PPDs) who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to fostering positive practice environments

Honorees exemplify the following standards: 

  • Embed Pathway Standards into daily practice 
  • Sustain engagement and collaboration within the Pathway Program community
  • Act as ambassadors of excellence and advance the mission of the Pathway to Excellence journey.

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Nominees must be from active Pathway-designated organizations. Organization must remain in good standing and maintain designation through the Magnet & Pathway™ Conference in October 2026. 

Roles include: 

  • Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN): Holds state board licensure in the United States, or the equivalent thereof outside the United States, or any new graduate or foreign nurse graduate with a temporary license and the responsibilities of a RN or LPN/LVN. 
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): Includes certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse practitioners. An APRN is eligible to take the survey if the nursing practice is under CNO’s oversight.
  • Registered Midwife (RM): Midwives who are eligible to take the Pathway Survey if: (a) they work in a midwife role (not an auxiliary role) and their education aligns with the recommendations set forth by the International Confederation of Midwives, AND (b)their practice is under the CNO's oversight, regardless of the reporting relationship.
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):  Helps residents with direct health care needs, under the supervision of a nurse in a long-term care facility.

Only completed applications will be considered. 

  • Must serve as organization's Pathway Program Director
  • Award winners must attend the ANCC Magnet & Pathway Conference™ 
    • Conference will be held in Chicago, IL from October 29-31, 2026

Nomination must speak to the PPD's ability to:

    • Live Pathway & Sustain Culture
      • Engages the team around a shared vision and connects individuals to the deeper purpose of the Pathway journey.
      • Integrates Pathway Standards into daily operations, leads initiatives aligned with the Pathway framework, and supports engagement strategies that keep the culture visible and sustained.
      • Contributes to multiple Pathway designations, demonstrating ongoing commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
    • Disseminate Knowledge
      • Shares lived experiences and disseminates Pathway-related information through presentations, publications, and other educational materials.
    • Mentor
      • Mentors others on the Pathway to Excellence journey through partnerships, collaborations, and consultation efforts, with outcomes or feedback demonstrating impact.
    • Demonstrate Improvements
      • Provides evidence of meaningful improvements in outcomes related to the Pathway journey, supported by metrics, data, or stories.
      • Highlights improvements in patient care, staff engagement, or organizational culture.
    • Encourage Benchmarking & Storytelling
      • Collaborates with the Pathway Program Office as an ambassador of positive practice environments, sharing examples that uplift benchmarking and storytelling.

    Questions?

    Email PNOY@ana.org