Awards

Nominations - Now Open!

The 2026 FNINR Awards nomination period is now open. We invite eligible individuals to review the award criteria and submit a nomination as we prepare to recognize and honor leaders advancing nursing research at the 2026 Nightingale Gala. The FNINR Awards are a highlight of the Gala, celebrating excellence and impact across the nursing research community. Submit your nomination by March 31!

Submit a Nomination

Awards

The Ada Sue Hinshaw Nurse Scholar Award is named in honor of the first permanent Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research and is considered the pre-eminent award given by FNINR. Recipients have a sustained program of research that would afford them recognition as a prominent senior nurse scientist.

The Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award is named for the renowned nurse leader and researcher whose vision has resulted in incredible value created by nurse scientists over the years. The recipient will be an organization or individual with a sustained or lasting impact on nursing science through advocacy, institutional leadership, or an individual program of research that has led to public awareness of the value of nursing science in improving health at the individual and/or population levels.

The President’s Award is given annually to a nurse researcher who has made a significant impact on a topic of the President's choosing and changes each year. The recipient should have a long-standing trajectory in the selected focus area (at least 10 years) and demonstrate substantial positive outcomes/impact.

The Welch/Woerner Path-Paver Award is given to a mid-to-late career nurse scientist who has achieved one or more breakthroughs in theory development, research methods, instruments, entrepreneurship, translation or subject matter, that has paved the way for other scientists and who has influenced and mentored the next generation of nurse researchers.

The Protégé Award is given to an early career nurse scientist who shows great promise in advancing science and who is within the first 6 years of completing either a PhD or other post-doctoral study. 

Awards Program Timeline

Award Nominations: Open
Late March 2026 - Award Nominations Close
Late Summer 2026 - Award Winners Notified

Required Materials:

• A summary of any two publications, presentations, or other scholarly work that highlights the significance of the work and/or the impact of the work to the field/discipline. Each summary is not to exceed 1 page.
• Two letters of support addressing how the nominee meets or exceeds the award criteria. Each letter of support is not to exceed 2 pages.
• Curriculum Vitae
• A one paragraph narrative describing the area of research, its alignment with the award criteria, and its future potential (max. 500 words).

Evaluation Criteria:

• Body of Work
• Scholarly Dissemination
• Funding
• Impact
• Overall Alignment with Award Description

Past Award Recipients

Learn more about past award recipients.

Past Award Winners

For questions or further information, please contact Kayla Fuller at [email protected].

Note: Past FNINR awards winners cannot be nominated for the same award they have previously won. They may be nominated for a different award after three years have passed from the last award received.