Do you know a registered nurse who in 2025 has made a positive impact in the lives of the patients, families and communities they serve? Share their inspirational story by nominating them for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Celebrating Nurses Awards.

This annual awards program shines a spotlight on nursing excellence, gives the winners the recognition they so richly deserve and is a milestone in their career.

The top 10 honorees will be celebrated among hundreds of nurses during National Nurses Week in early May, 2026. We’ll also shine a spotlight on them by featuring their stories in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and on AJC.com. In addition they’ll be proudly recognized by their employer as being the best of the best.

This awards program is open to all Registered Nurses working for any organization across eligible counties within Georgia (see official rules for list of counties). Nominations are accepted from everyone including patients, families, colleagues and supervisors. A panel of independent judges will review all nominations and choose the winners based on the impact the individual has made through their Compassion, Care, Commitment and Inspiration during 2025.

Compassion Care Commitment Inspiration
This nomination story demonstrates compassionate collaboration with a patient, family, significant other and/or other healthcare providers. This nomination story models professional behavior, engages in conflict resolution, actively advocates for patients, healthy work environment and/or the nursing profession. This nomination story displays a nurse's unwavering commitment to patients, other healthcare providers and/or advancements in the nursing profession. This nomination story would serve as a genuine inspiration to myself and others in the nursing profession as an example of exceptional performance.

For more info on the program, please visit our Celebrating Nurses Hub at
ajc.com/celebratingnurses. Click here for Official Rules

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* Before you get started, let's see if this person is also qualified to participate in our Leadership Award.

Is this person at the Director level or higher? If yes, they may qualify for our Leadership Award. Please consider doing a Separate Nomination for them HERE.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS NOMINATION FORM IS FOR THE RN AWARDS ONLY!

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* Nominator's First Name

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* Nominator's Last Name

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* Nominator's E-Mail

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* Nominator's Phone

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* Relationship to Registered Nurse (RN) nominee (i.e. manager, co-worker, patient, spouse, friend). How do you know the nominee?

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* RN Nominee's First Name 

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* RN Nominee's Last Name

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* RN Nominee's Employee ID #, Employee’s Email Address or  Unit/Department (Optional)

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* Medical facility, organization, school or company where registered nurse is employed?

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* How/Where did you hear about the program/event?

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* REASON FOR NOMINATION:

Please share your story here about your nominee and how this individual made a positive impact in the life of a patient, family member or the nursing profession in 2025. Help the judges get to know what makes this individual so special by sharing details about a particular situation or circumstance he or she faced, explain why this individual is an inspiration to you and others, and what sets this RN apart and above all others. As you craft your answer, keep in mind the key principles the nomination will be judged on: Compassion, Care, Commitment and Inspiration.

Wondering where to start with your nomination story? Check out these past winner’s inspirational stories: Elizabeth Oliveira (2024), Sarah Harper (2022), Lisa Vogel (2020)

Submissions must be a minimum of 250 words.

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* I have read and agree to the Official Rules

All patient/medical information included in your nomination will remain confidential until approved and released by your organization. Selection is based solely on the information submitted. Winners and their nominators will be notified in advance and invited as special guests to the AJC Celebrating Nurses awards event. The award recipient and nominator will also be asked to submit a photo and/or be videotaped for recognition at the event. Excerpts from the nomination may be used when the award is presented and in other recognition materials. To see the stories from the 2025 AJC Celebrating Nurses Awards, visit ajc.com/pulse.

For nomination and sponsorship questions – please contact Emily Mack at 770-843-2988

No purchase necessary. Open to legal U.S. residents of Georgia, 18+. Nominators may not nominate themselves or immediate family and are not prize-eligible. Nominees must be licensed registered nurses residing and working in eligible Atlanta metro counties (see Official Rules). Nomination period: Sept. 19, 2025, 12:01 a.m. ET – Dec. 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET. Limit: one nomination per nominator per nominee. Up to 25 finalists reviewed by judges; criteria: Impact 40%, Clarity 30%, Inspiration/Leadership 20%, Narrative 10%. Eleven (11) winners (10 nurses, 1 nursing leader) selected. Winners receive recognition as part of the AJC Celebrating Nurses Awards 2026 (e.g., coverage in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, event acknowledgment, commemorative award); secondary gifts (e.g., gift cards, merchandise, event invitations) may also be awarded. Total ARV of all prizes ≤ $5,000. Winners notified on/around Mar. 1, 2026. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Cox Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1200 Peachtree St NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30309. See Official Rules for full details.: Official Rules.
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