Pathway Nurse of the Year

celebrating those who live pathway

The Pathway Nurse of the Year Award^® recognizes nurses and nurse partners globally from Pathway-designated organizations who demonstrate excellence in advancing positive practice environments. 

Honorees exemplify professionalism, compassion, collaboration, and clinical excellence - driving improved organizational and patient outcomes within the Pathway Standards:

• Shared Decision-Making & Leadership
• Safety & Quality
• Well-Being & Professional Development.

Nominees must be from active Pathway-designated organizations. Nominees, regardless of tenure and hours worked, from any site included in the Pathway to Excellence application are eligible. Individual winners may only receive award once in their lifetime. Roles include: 

• Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is a nurse who 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) For Pathway purposes, RMs are 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) For the purposes of Pathway, a certified nursing assistant/nursing aide that 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. 

• Award winners must attend the ANCC Magnet & Pathway Conference™ 
  • Conference will be held in Chicago, IL from October 29-31, 2026
  • Awardee will receive stipend for travel costs and coverage of conference registration fee
• Only one award will be awarded to an organization in an award year. 
• An awardee many only receive award once in their lifetime. 
• At minimum, one award will be awarded to a direct care nurse.
  • A Direct Care Nurse is a nurse at any level whose primary responsibility is the provision of direct patient/resident care at least 50% of their time - which may include direct physical contact or care provided remotely (telehealth). 

To review complete rules regarding permissions of use and display by the Pathway Nurse of the Year Award committee, please see information guide in quick links above. 

Choose one of three categories: 

• Shared Decision-Making & Leadership
• Safety & Quality
• Well-Being & Professional Development

Nomination requirements:

• Nominee's resume (3 pages maximum)
  • Full contact information for nominee must be present

• Narrative essay (500 words or less),
  • Must be on official organization letterhead and include nominators full contact information
  • Include how the nominee:
    • Exemplifies the chosen category
    • Role models exceptional professionalism and leadership in working collaboratively with team members
    • Integrating clinical expertise with compassionate patient or resident care and contributing to organizational and/or patient outcomes.  
• Letter of endorsement (1 page maximum):
  • Written and signed by CNO and/or LTC Director of Nursing (CNO/DON)
  • Must include why the nominee deserves award and how the nominee exemplifies the chosen category, role modeling behaviors, and clinical expertise noted in narrative. 

No fee for submission. 

Questions?

Email PNOY@ana.org