The Wisconsin Nurses Association Awards is a tradition dating back 40 years. Back in 1976 there was only 1 award, the “Service to WNA Award.”  The awards have grown and been reshaped over the years, and today we are proud to have 11 different awards to present to our dedicated members.

We are constantly in awe of the various ways that our member nurses positively represent the profession by giving back to the community, advocating for us in the political arena, caring for our environmental health, conducting valuable research, leading us to success, and more. The WNA Awards are our way of saying more than “thanks.”

Nominations are open until August 1, 2016. The awards ceremony will take place at the WNA Membership Assembly and Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 22. Winners will be previously notified and formally invited to the ceremony.

Submit your nomination to honor your colleagues’ achievements & contributions to WNA and the nursing profession!

List of 2016 WNA Awards:

1. Signe Cooper Image of Nursing Award. The recipient of this award is involved in activities that enhance the image of professional nursing and the image of WNA.
2. Vivien DeBack Leadership Award. The recipient of this award is involved in activities that demonstrate innovation in the advancement of the profession.
3. Service to WNA Award. The recipient of this award exhibits outstanding participation in the WNA, including (but not limited to) service through elected office and committee involvement.
4. Community Service Award. The recipient exercises extraordinary contributions to public education, community outreach, and health promotion.
5. Rita Kisting Sparks Excellence in Nursing Education Award. The recipient of this award demonstrates extraordinary contribution to excellence in nursing education for students and to the development and implementation of continuing education.
6. Nursing Practice Award. The recipient of this award is involved in activities that demonstrate innovations in patient care; role model for nursing practice; commitment to the practice of professional nurse; and utilization/dissemination of research in practice.
7. Norma Lang Excellence in Nursing Research Award. The recipient of this award conducts original research of relevance to nursing practice and theory development in nursing; serves as principal investigator on externally funded, peer reviewed nursing research projects; generates a substantial record of data-based, referenced publications; delivers invited research presentations at professional/scientific meetings; and communicates nursing research to the general public and the nursing community.
8. Staff Nurse Advocacy Award. This award is given to recognize excellence in individual staff nurses who provide direct patient care in all practice settings and who advocate for their patients. The recipient has demonstrated outstanding advocacy in a clinical setting at the staff nurse level.
9. Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year Award. This award is selected by the WNA APRN Forum. The recipient is employed as an Advanced Practice Nurse, demonstrates expert knowledge and practice in an APRN clinical area of nursing, demonstrates involvement and contributions in the areas of patient care, consultation, education, or research and demonstrates leadership within the nursing profession.
10. Political Nurse Award. This award is selected by the Wisconsin Nurses Political Action Committee (WINPAC). The recipient demonstrates involvement in political activities that promote quality of care; acts as a positive role model in his/her use of the political process to advance health care and/or nursing; encourages nurses to become involved in the political process; promotes the education of nurses and consumers in the use of the political process and the value of involvement in governmental affairs; and promotes increased political awareness and involvement within professional organizations.
11. Lillian Mood Award. This award is selected by the Wisconsin Environmental Health Nursing Coalition (WEHNC), a mutual interest group of the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA). The recipient is a nurse who demonstrates excellence in incorporating environmental health into his/her practice
12. Honorary Friends of Nursing Award. The recipient of this award is someone outside of WNA who has rendered distinguished service or valuable assistance to the nursing profession.