Skip to content

Inaugural Northeast Florida
Excellence in Nursing Awards

The remarkable efforts of nurses in Northeast Florida often go unnoticed. They consistently exhibit selfless care, compassion, and service. To honor these dedicated nurses, Jacksonville Magazine and the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida are hosting the inaugural Excellence in Nursing Awards.

Whether it be a nurse from a private practice, hospital system, or school, or a nurse who specializes in home care, pediatrics, surgery, or education, help recognize our region’s healthcare heroes by submitting a nomination for this new local honor. Each of the nominations will be reviewed by a distinguished selection committee.

The finalists will be announced in December 2026. Winners will be revealed at an event in February 2027 and featured in an upcoming issue of Jacksonville Magazine. If you have questions about the awards, please email Debra Harrison at debraharrison526@gmail.com

Nomination Deadline is August 31.


Northeast Florida Excellence in Nursing Awards Categories

1. Advanced Practice
Recognizes an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse working in any setting, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives.

2. Ambulatory Care
Recognizes a nurse working in ambulatory care settings for patients of all ages, including care coordination, navigation, dialysis, clinic-based nursing, forensic nursing, urgent care, and telehealth.

3. Community/Public Health Nursing
Recognizes nurses working in community settings such as home care, correctional nursing, occupational health, public health departments, school nursing, or parish nursing.

4. Emergency and Critical Care
Recognizes a nurse working in emergency or critical care settings, including emergency departments, flight nursing, intensive care units, progressive care (telemetry), peri-anesthesia care units (PACU), or pediatric intensive care units.

5. Hospice–Palliative Care
Recognizes a nurse working in hospice or palliative care, including those in hospice, palliative, or dementia/memory care settings.

6. Maternal–Child Nursing
Recognizes a nurse working in prenatal care, high-risk maternal-fetal care, intrapartum or postpartum care, newborn special care, neonatal intensive care, or women’s health.

7. Medical Surgical Nursing
Recognizes a nurse working in acute care settings, including inpatient medical-surgical units, post-operative care units, and med/surg pediatrics.

8. Nurse Educator/Researcher
Recognizes a nurse involved in education within academia at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level. Also includes nurses engaged in research to advance evidence-based practice.

9. Nurse Leader
Recognizes a frontline or administrative nursing leader, including nursing supervisors, infection control specialists, case managers, or quality improvement professionals. (See #14 for Senior Nurse Leader.)

10. Nursing Informatics
Recognizes a nurse specializing in informatics, including EHR implementation, clinical workflow optimization, and development of healthcare software, devices, or applications. These professionals may work across hospitals, IT vendors, consulting firms, government agencies (e.g., CDC), academic institutions, or insurance organizations.
11. Post-Acute Care
Recognizes a nurse working in skilled nursing, intermediate care, long-term care, or assisted living settings.

12. Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
Recognizes a nurse specializing in psychiatric, mental health, or substance use disorder care in inpatient or community-based settings for adults or children.

13. Rehabilitation Nursing
Recognizes a nurse working in inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation settings for adults or children.

14. Senior Nurse Leader
Recognizes a senior-level nursing leader, including nurse managers, directors, or chief nursing officers.

15. Specialty Care Nursing
Recognizes a nurse working in specialty areas such as cardiovascular, neurology, transplant, or oncology in pediatric or adult care.

16. Surgical Services
Recognizes a nurse working in operating room settings within hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers, including circulating and scrub nurses.
Northeast Florida Nominee Information

Please fill out the following information about the nurse you are nominating. (You will be prompted to enter your contact information later in the application.) Nominations are not complete without a resume. Limit: 300 characters
2026 Excellence in Nursing Awards Nomination Form
1.Nominee's First Name (required)
2.Nominee's Last Name (required)
3.Nominee's Occupational Title (required)
4.Nominee's Area of Practice (required)
5.Nominee's Employing Organization (required)
6.Nominee's Department (if applicable)
7.Nominee’s Supervisor
8.Nominee’s Supervisor Phone Number
9.Nominee’s Supervisor Email
10.Nominee's Personal Phone Number (required)
11.Nominee's Email (required)
12.Please upload a copy of the nominee's resume.
No file chosen
Nominee Contributions

Each nominee will be judged on his/her quality of work and commitment. The judging panel will base their decisions on your responses, so please answer each question fully.

Please attach a resume with relevant biographical information, including previous work experience, education, and additional skills. Nominations are not complete without a resume. Your assistance to obtain a copy is greatly appreciated.

If you do not have access to the resume, please make sure you include a direct telephone number and email address for the nominee above.
13.Tell us about a specific example in which the nominee went above and beyond the call of duty while working with a patient, student, or colleague. (required)
14.Please explain how this nominee’s work has contributed to the mission and spirit of his or her organization, profession, and/or community. Any examples will be helpful. (required)
15.Share any other examples that demonstrate why this nominee should be honored with the Excellence in Nursing Award. (required)


Submitter Information

Please fill out the following information about yourself.
16.Submitter's First Name (required)
17.Submitter's Last Name (required)
18.Submitter's Phone Number (required)
19.Submitter's Email (required)
20.What is your relationship to the nominee? (required)
21.May we contact you about this submission? (required)