PSNA is accepting nominations for its 2013 PSNA Awards including: John Heinz Friend of Nursing Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Distinguished Nurse Award, and Emerging Nurse Leader Award. Join us as we take time to celebrate the work and lifetime achievements of a special handful of individuals. Nominations are accepted through August 1, 2013.

Since 1991, the PSNA John Heinz Friend of Nursing Award has been given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership that has significantly impacted nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and/or nursing research within the Commonwealth. This award is open to PSNA members and non-members; nominees do not have to be a registered nurse.

The PSNA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a member of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association who has demonstrated a lifetime of exemplary service and dedication to the profession of nursing and/or PSNA. The nominee’s distinguished career has yielded outstanding and noteworthy contributions and accomplishments that are significant to the nursing profession and/or health care arena throughout the Commonwealth, the nation or the global community. The nominee must hold current Pennsylvania State Nurses Association membership.

The PSNA Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award recognizes a member of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association who has demonstrated leadership characteristics and rendered distinguished service to the nursing profession, and whose contributions and accomplishments are of significance to the nursing profession throughout the Commonwealth, the nation or the global community. Other considerations include community involvement, participation in professional nursing organizations, recognition by peers and demonstration of interdisciplinary collaboration. The nominee must hold current Pennsylvania State Nurses Association membership.

The PSNA Emerging Nurse Leader Award recognizes an RN who has completed the Star Leadership Institute program and is an exceptional professional of merit and accomplishment in their professional practice. This Nurse has demonstrated innovative thinking, a commitment to the advancement of nursing and transformational leadership. This nurse demonstrates exceptional leadership characteristics that may include, but are not limited to, leading others by example, mentoring, transferring knowledge to others, taking risk to achieve desired outcome, delegating tasks in a clear and logical manner, motivating others to strive beyond what they believe can be achieved and demonstrating quality improvement methods.

Winners will be notified by September 1, 2013 and honored at the PSNA 110-Year Anniversary Gala on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at The Desmond Hotel, Malvern. For a full list of criteria, previous award recipients or to nominate a nurse for these prestigious awards, complete the online form at www.psna.org/awards.