Rules

• Individuals may not be a Top Nurse in two consecutive years; may be honorable mention multiple years.
• Valid candidate email, organization/employer, and telephone number required.
• A valid submission includes a narrative explaining why your candidate is a Top Nurse.
• 500 characters for all categories except the Nursing Legend category
• 1,000 characters for Nursing Legend
• The Nursing Legend category is a one-time award. Nurses who have previously received the award are ineligible. 

How to Vote

• Review the categories and consider a nursing colleague you feel best fits the qualifications for each category before voting.
• A nominee does not have to be submitted for each category when voting and you may vote until the closing date and time.
• Only one vote per category will be counted from each nominator (person voting). If multiple votes in a category are received from the same nominator, only the vote from the first submission (in each category) will be accepted.
• To successfully enter a nominee in a category, the following information is required about the nominee: name, email address, organization/employer, and telephone number.
• The nominator (person voting) must submit their name and Delaware nursing license number.
• Votes received without the required information will not be considered.

Category - LPN

• A Licensed Practical Nurse who provides outstanding patient care, superior nursing clinical skills, and exceptional communication skills which contribute to the health care needs of patients while advancing the profession.

Categories - RN/APRN

Academic Educator

• A RN or APRN practicing in the field of academic nurse education who excels at facilitating learning through curriculum design, teaching, evaluation, and advisement in an academic program of nursing and who engages in research/scholarship and functions as a change agent and leader in higher education.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

• A nurse licensed at the Advanced Practice level (Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Certified Nurse Midwife) who demonstrates advanced leadership skills, superior clinical knowledge, and plays a pivotal role in providing quality care to patients, families and communities through the art and science of advanced professional nursing.

Advancing and Leading the Profession

• An RN or APRN who is well-known and respected as a visionary, innovative leader and change agent, who moves the profession forward through work in patient care administration, education or research, or strengthens it through other professional activities, endeavors or contributions.

Ambulatory Care Nursing

• An RN or APRN who exemplifies outstanding clinical knowledge, nursing expertise, and community involvement in caring for patients in settings such as public health, community health, ambulatory care, medical offices, or schools as well as serving as a role model and mentor.

Case/Utilization Management

• A RN or APRN, who through the art and science of professional nursing demonstrates advanced management and communications skills as a community or hospital case/utilization manager as well as serving as a role model and mentor.

Clinical Educator

• A RN or APRN, other than an academic educator, who within their practice, demonstrates a high degree of ability to develop nurses through skills training or professional development programs, or who guides, supports or influences nurses' career development in meaningful, measurable ways in an institution or practice setting.

Home Health/Hospice/Telehealth

• A RN or APRN, practicing in the fields of home health, hospice, or telehealth who demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge and an advanced ability to navigate system resources to enhance the quality of life for patients and their families.

Informatics

• A RN or APRN, practicing in the field of informatics, who through the art and science of professional nursing demonstrates significant leadership contributions by optimizing health engagements and care outcomes through information and technology as well as serving as a role model and mentor.

Inpatient/Acute Care Nursing

• An RN or APRN, who demonstrates superior clinical nursing knowledge and expert skills, and applies both in ways that measurably impact the quality of care and improve patient care outcomes in any inpatient clinical setting.

Nursing Legend

• The Nursing Legend Award is a one-time award presented to a retired nurse whose extraordinary contributions has significantly enhanced the nursing profession, impacted our society and whose work continues to impact the provision of health services in Delaware.

Nursing Newcomer

• An RN or APRN new to the nursing profession, less than 5 years as a licensed RN/APRN, that has made impactful contributions in their practice and demonstrates superior clinical skills, collaboration, leadership, and communication.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

• A RN or APRN who demonstrates superior clinical nursing skills in advancing health and wellness promotion through identification, prevention and the care and treatment of persons with mental, behavioral, and/or addiction disorders.

Quality/Safety/Risk Management

• A RN or APRN, practicing the art and science of professional nursing in the field of quality, safety, or risk management, who demonstrates advanced management and communication skills as well as serving as a role model and mentor.

Rehabilitation/Long-Term Care

• A RN or APRN practicing in the field of rehabilitation or long-term care, who demonstrates advanced knowledge of nursing interventions and superior coordination and collaborative skills in the nursing home setting, gerontology, services for disabilities, rehabilitative services, subacute/transitional unit.

Volunteerism and Service

• An RN or APRN who gives of self in outstanding humanitarian and/or heroic ways by providing nursing care, skills and expertise in outreach to the community, either at home or abroad, to improve the lives, well-being, and healthcare of others.