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APNA Annual Awards

The APNA Annual Awards recognize APNA members who demonstrate excellence in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice, education, research, leadership, innovation, community efforts, and more. Recipients are recognized at the APNA Annual Conference and in APNA communications throughout the year.


Congratulations to the 2025 APNA Annual Awards Recipients

APNA Psychiatric Nurse of the Year

The APNA Psychiatric Nurse of the Year Award recognizes an APNA member who demonstrates vision, perseverance, dedication, initiative and facilitation in the delivery of mental health services to individuals, families, and their communities. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Distinguished Service

The APNA Distinguished Service Award is intended as recognition for commitment, initiative, loyalty, integrity, and exceptional and meritorious service to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Education

This award recognizes an APNA member who has fostered the professional growth of psychiatric-mental health nurses through imparting knowledge, skill, and critical analysis to the field. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Innovation – Chapter

This award recognizes an APNA chapter that has creatively implemented a successful project/activity that has potential to further the goals and objectives of the association. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Innovation – Individual

This award recognizes an APNA member who has developed and/or demonstrated a new, fresh approach to care through innovation in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Leadership – APRN

This award honors an APNA advanced level member who has distinguished him/herself as an accomplished nursing leader. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Leadership – RN

This APNA member must demonstrate unique leadership qualities through significant contributions to an organization, a community, the psychiatric-mental health nursing specialty, or the nursing profession. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Media

This award recognizes APNA members who have demonstrated excellence in producing media related to psychiatric-mental health nursing.  One or more categories (book, video, etc.) may be awarded in a given year. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Practice – APRN

This award recognizes an APNA APRN-PMH member who has made significant contributions to psychiatric-mental health nursing practice. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Practice – RN

This award recognizes an APNA RN-PMH who provides or promotes exemplary psychiatric-mental health nursing practice to patients, families and populations. Criteria

 

APNA Award for Excellence in Research & Scholarship

This award is granted to an APNA member who has made a significant contribution to research in psychiatric nursing care, education, leadership/management and/or health services. Criteria

 

APNA Annual Awards Nominations are Now Closed

How to Submit Your Nomination
  • Click here when the call for nominations opens. On the next screen click the black Login button and log in with your APNA username and password.
  • Review the instructions on the submission page and click Add Another Submission.
  • Complete the online nomination form.
    • Fill in your information and the information for your nominee.
    • Select the award name from the drop down on the following page.
    • When completing the form, be sure to include specific examples of how the nominee has achieved excellence in his/her practice, what makes the nominee stand out in the profession, and what the nominee has accomplished that meets the criteria.
  • Find a reference to complete the form.
    • On the reference page of your nomination submission, enter a contact’s name and email address to generate an email that will include a link to submit their reference.
    • In order to be considered, each nomination must have both a nominator and a reference.
  • Once your nomination is complete, click the Submit button.

View past APNA Annual Awards recipients here. 

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