Awards & Recognition
Nominations for 2026 AONL and AONL Foundation awards
AONL members embody the mission of the organization - transforming healthcare through expert and influential nursing leadership. Recognizing and honoring AONL members who excel in their roles and inspire their peers is the personification of these annual awards. Consider nominating an individual or group who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, implementation of innovative practices, ground-breaking research or other significant contributions to nursing leadership practice.
Awards Nominations are Now Open!
Nominations will be opened from Sept. 9 through Oct. 1.
Submission Deadline October 1, 2025
Nominees Notified January 2026
Award Presentation March 29 - April 1, 2026
The AONL Prism Award recognizes organizations that support the strategic objectives of addressing disparities in health care outcomes, healthy work environment, nurse well-being and safety across all roles and settings, within the nursing profession, health care organizations or community. Learn about AONL Prism Award eligibility criteria.
The American Organization for Nursing Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest and most prestigious award given to a member of the organization recognized by the broader nursing community as a significant leader in the nursing profession. Selection for this honor recognizes an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to the nursing profession and AONL, as well as exemplary professional practice and nursing leadership.
The nominee must have served AONL and the profession of nursing in a significant leadership capacity, demonstrating the qualities of leadership and service to the nursing profession by his/her professional and personal example. Learn about AONL Lifetime Achievement Award eligibility criteria.
The Exemplary Leadership Award recognizes a nurse leader who significantly influenced professional nursing practice and the professional development of others. AONL believes every nurse has the potential to be leader and inspire expert care. This award supports AONL’s mission by honoring an individual’s influence and impact on nursing practice, leadership and community. Learn about the Exemplary Leadership Award eligibility criteria and nomination process.
The award recognizes an engaged AONL member who exhibits significant potential as a future health care leader and demonstrates exemplary leadership within his or her organization, community and the nursing profession. The award is named for AONL CEO Emeritus Pamela Austin Thompson, who played a pivotal role in AONL’s development of leadership programs for emerging nurse leaders, all aimed at preparing the next generation of nurse leaders to meet future practice needs. Learn about the Pamela Austin Thompson Emerging Leader Award eligibility criteria and nomination process.
Recognizes an AONL Affiliate that promotes nursing leadership and its influence in the areas of the advancement of nursing practice, patient safety, quality, recruitment and retention, or another priority initiative for that particular state/region, and can serve as a model for other states or regions with similar interests. Learn about the AONL Affiliate Achievement Award eligibility criteria.
The AONL Foundation Nurse Researcher Award honors an individual who exemplifies outstanding research excellence through original, groundbreaking, and methodologically sound contributions to nursing leadership and systems science. The recipient’s work is aligned with AONL research priorities. It demonstrates—or holds strong potential to demonstrate—significant impact, as reflected in scholarly citations, influence on policy or clinical practice, and meaningful benefits to targeted communities or society. Read the AONL Foundation Nurse Researcher Award description.
The FAONL designation recognizes exemplary nurse leaders who have made significant and sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership and to AONL.