2025 NAFNP Practice Excellence Award

The National Association of Family Nurse Practitioners (NAFNP) proudly celebrates FNPs who exemplify excellence in practice through the prestigious FNP Practice Excellence Award. This distinguished award honors FNPs who have made exceptional contributions to the field by advancing clinical practice, demonstrating leadership, and engaging in meaningful service to the community. It recognizes those who have significantly improved healthcare outcomes, fostered innovation, and elevated the visibility and recognition of FNPs in the broader healthcare landscape. Through their dedication, these individuals inspire and drive progress in the profession, ensuring that the FNP role continues to evolve in response to the dynamic needs of patients, families, and communities.

Eligibility

  • Must be a current member of NAFNP.
  • Requires at least three years of practice.
  • Self-nominations are permitted but must include at least one letter of support from colleagues or collaborators.
  • Previous award recipients are ineligible to be nominated within two years of receiving the award.

Criteria

Nominations may be submitted for an NAFNP member who demonstrates exceptional practice, clinical contribution, leadership, and service to both the profession and the community. The nominee should provide evidence of meeting most of the following criteria:

  1. Promoting and Maintaining Excellence in Professional Practice: Exemplifies excellence as a nurse practitioner and serves as a role model to fellow Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) by consistently upholding high standards of care and professionalism.
  2. Significant Clinical Contribution: Makes substantial clinical contributions that directly enhance care delivery and improve health outcomes for patients, families, and/or communities.
  3. Commitment to Leadership: Demonstrates strong leadership skills in professional and/or community organizations, with a focus on improving health outcomes and advancing the goals of the FNP role within those settings.
  4. Professional and Community Service: Actively engages in professional and community service initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and fostering better health outcomes for patients, families, and communities.

 

Submission Requirements and Guidelines

  • Format: All materials must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
  • Contents:
    • Completed nomination form.
    • A letter of nomination detailing the nominee's achievements and alignment with the award criteria (one page; double-spaced).
    • One letter of support from colleagues, students, or collaborators attesting to the nominee's educational impact.
    • Evidence of innovation, such as publications, curriculum materials, or testimonials.
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting academic, educational, and professional contributions.
  •  Submission: Nominations must be submitted by the specified deadline via the 2025 Award Nomination form on the NAFNP website (NAFNP.org.) 

Nomination Timeline

  • Call for Nominations: Opens on January 27, 2025.
  • Submission Deadline: March 3, 2025.
  • Review Period: March 4 to March 31, 2025. 
  • Recipient Notification: Recipients will be notified by April 1, 2025, and be recognized at the Denver NAFNP meetup on April 11, 2025.

Award Package

Recipients will:

  • Receive a commemorative plaque recognizing their award.
  • Be featured in the NAFNP newsletter and website.
  • Be invited to present their innovative educational work at an NAFNP meeting.

Contact Information

For further information, contact:

NAFNP Awards & Recognition Committee
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.NAFNP.org