The Academic Faculty Award will be presented during the 2024 Annual Conference.

The purpose of the award is to nationally recognize an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Academic Faculty. The award acknowledges a CNS academic faculty member’s commitment to excellence and innovation in preparing student CNSs and in implementing educational standards described in the NACNS Statement on CNS Practice and Education.

Please review the criteria and submit a completed application with corresponding rationale supporting candidates who you recommend for this award.

Submit Your Nomination

The application period will be October 10-November 6, 2023.

Winners will be informed in December 2023.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 

1. The candidate must be nominated by a colleague who can affirm and speak to the candidate’s CNS work.
2. Candidate meets their state of residence’s requirements for CNS recognition by their state board of nursing.
3. Active membership in NACNS for at least the past 2 years.
4. The candidate must have at least 3 years of experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist academic faculty.
5. The candidate must have been educated as a CNS in a masters or doctoral program.
6. If selected, the candidate must agree to attend the NACNS annual conference and provide a photo suitable for inclusion in the conference program brochure.
7. The candidate must serve as a role model to nursing colleagues by:
   • The candidate generates and demonstrates theoretical and practical curricular/clinical excellence and innovation that address priorities in CNS education.
   • Demonstrates outstanding achievements in teaching students to implement the CNS role.
   • Established educational, clinical, and/or health policy initiatives that promote CNS education in all 3 spheres of impact.
   • Fosters research and scholarly approaches to improve CNS practice as evidenced by dissemination with webinar, poster, podium, publications, or grants.
   • Demonstrates interprofessional collaboration in education and practice.
   • Guides system level change through collaboration impacting CNS education and health policy related to CNS and APRN practice.

Award: 

A plaque recognizing the winner will be presented at the NACNS conference and the winner will be featured in the CNS journal. Nontransferable complimentary NACNS conference registration will also be awarded.  

Selection:

Applications received by the deadline will undergo review by the selection committee appointed by the Board of Directors. Award recipients will receive an email letter announcing if they have received their award and the day and time the award is planned to be presented. All candidate information/packet must be received by November 6, 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Nomination Packet includes: 

1. One letter of recommendation from a colleague who can speak to the candidate’s CNS work, limited to 2-page maximum.
   • Each of the criteria must be addressed in the letter with specific examples.
   • Instead of using name, the nominator must refer to them as candidate.
   • Indicate how the nominator knows the nominee (e.g., in what capacity/role, how long)
2. A copy of the nominee’s current CV/resumé
3. Nomination letter and current CV will be submitted together in one pdf.
4. All submissions must be typed copy.
5. Selection is made based only on the information submitted.
6. All information will remain strictly confidential and will not be returned.
7. Winner will be notified by December 2023. Upon notification, the winner will be asked to submit an official picture for recognition at the next conference.