Equity-Minded Nurse Awards Program
Are you a nurse working to promote health equity through teaching, leading, or practicing equity-minded nursing?
Do you know an equity-minded nurse?
The AARP Center for Health Equity through NursingSM and the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, with support from national nursing organizations, will award five equity-minded nurses with a $1,000 prize each and paid travel to and recognition at a reception in Baltimore Sept. 10 before an audience of national nursing leaders and educators at Coppin State University.
One award will be presented to a nurse in each category: equity-minded rising star, equity-minded practice, equity-minded research, equity-minded educator, and equity-minded leader.
Self applications and nominations will be accepted through April 30.
Deadline: April 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Award Categories:
The Equity-Minded Rising Star Award recognizes a student or early career nurses whose contributions show promise for ongoing impact in reducing health disparities and advancing health equity. This award is co-sponsored by the National League for Nursing.
The Equity-Minded Practice Award recognizes a nurse whose work with patients, families and/or communities exemplifies efforts to reduce health disparities and advance health equity. These efforts demonstrate potential for impact and serve as a best or promising practice. Co-sponsored by the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing / American Nurses Association.
The Equity-Minded Research Award recognizes a nurse whose research contributes to the science and body of knowledge that advances health equity. The nominee is expected to have leveraged their role as an experienced and capable researcher to drive change and to inform healthcare practice and/or policy. Co-sponsored by the American Academy of Nursing.
The Equity-Minded Educator Award recognizes a nurse whose efforts demonstrate excellence in supporting a diverse nursing student body and inclusive teaching/learning practices, and whose teaching and/or curriculum design include topics that lead to the graduation of equity-minded nurses. Co-sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The Equity-Minded Leader Award recognizes a nurse serving as a catalyst for change at a systems or organization level. Their work addresses and dismantles policies and structures that contribute to disparities and inequities, helps create an overall climate of inclusion, and encourages the institution to focus on community needs. Co-sponsored by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are equity-minded nurse awards?
The AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing (A-CHEN) and the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, with support from national nursing organizations, are teaming up to host the second Equity-Minded Nurse Awards Program. The goal is to recognize nurses who model equity-minded thought leadership and are helping lead the way to health equity. There are five categories of awards detailed above, and a winner will be chosen for each. This is part of the Campaign’s work to implement the goals of the National Academy of Medicine report, the Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity.
Who is hosting/sponsoring this program?
The AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing was founded to align nurse leadership and consumer voices to end structural barriers to health and well-being. The Campaign for Action is an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that is building a healthier America through nursing. Nursing organization co-sponsors include the American Nurses Association/National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing; American Academy of Nursing; American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Organization for Nurse Leadership and the National League for Nursing.
How do I apply?
Individuals can apply or be nominated by someone through Tuesday, April 30 at 11:59 p.m. An award application can be found here. It requests minimal biographical information and examples of equity-minded work.
What do winners receive?
A winner in each of the five categories will receive $1,000, plus paid travel to and attendance at a reception at Coppin State University in Baltimore on Sept. 10 before an audience of national nurse leaders and nurse educators. All equity-minded nurse award winners will also become part of the Campaign for Action’s Health Equity Hall of Fame, where you can view the 2023 awardees of this program.
What does equity-minded mean?
The Campaign launched an equity-minded nurse initiative in 2022 as part of its work to implement the National Academy of Medicine’s Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. The Campaign defines equity-mindedness as so deeply understanding and embracing health equity, social justice, anti-racism, and cultural humility that these concepts emerge as normalized, automatic and default thought processes no matter the setting or the group of people they work with. You can read more about our equity-minded nurse initiative, including videos of nine nurses talking about what it means to be equity-minded and bloggers offering a range of personal and professional stories about achieving health equity through nursing.
How Are Winners Selected?
The Campaign will convene reviewers for each of the award categories to evaluate applications. Winners will be notified in mid summer.
For more information, please see the Campaign’s equity-minded nurse initiative or contact Ana Hervada at ahervada@aarp.org.