Awards and Scholarships

The Pamela Jane Nye Novice Innovator CNS Scholarship

The Annual Pamela Jane Nye Novice Innovator Clinical Nurse Specialist Scholarship will be presented during the Fall Summit.

The Pamela Jane Nye Operation Scrubs (OPi) Novice Innovator Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scholarship is a national, annual collaborative award with NACNS given to working CNSs seeking to begin a nursing business as a novice entrepreneur or intrapreneur within the employment setting.  This grant money is funded by Operation Scrubs, Incorporated, a non-profit company with a mission to educate and honor nurses. The American Heart / American Stroke Association holds in reserve, the funds in the Pamela Jane Nye Donor Advised Fund until it is released to the scholarship-winning CNS in the amount of $2000.00.

The application period will be June 1 – August 31, 2023.

Apply Here

Eligibility: Eligible applicants are working CNSs who have begun and leading the process of

  • Business ownership by applying for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) with national offices as an act of good faith and intention to proceed with business development (entrepreneur)
  • Business innovation within an employment setting with administrative-approved proposal as an act of good faith and intention to proceed with business development (intrapreneur)
  • Product invention/development and pursuing patent/licensing

Additional Criteria:

  • Licensed with State Board of Nursing
  • Currently employed and working at least 20 hours/week, in good standing with his/her hospital, clinic, or employer
  • Have a Federal EIN (entrepreneur candidates only)
  • Member of NACNS
  • CNS applicants must submit
    • 1 letter of reference, one page long
    • Current CV
    • Business/Initiative Plan, not to exceed 750 words, describing the nursing business (see criteria identified below.)
  • Awardee must self-report back by 9 months to the Awards subcommittee on how funds were used via an expense report. A document explaining the outcomes will also be provided

Business Initiative Plan:  The 750-word business plan should be double-spaced and in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Content should be free of typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors.

  • Cover: The cover has identification of applicant & contact information which will be removed prior to Awards Work Group evaluation. Download the cover to fill out here.
  • Business/Initiative Name (5-10 words)
  • Executive Summary: Need for the business initiative (150-200 words)
    • Consider current situation, need for change, time and cost reduction
  • Mission/Vision Statement (10-20 words), if applicable
  • Profile: description of the nursing business (150-200 words)
  • Projected financial needs for start-up or projected needs for 1 year in existing or proposed business (150-200 words)