Nursing Awards Categories
Each year, NNPBC grants awards to nurses and nurse practitioners from around the province. This year, we’re excited to share new award categories and criteria.
The criteria for each award reflect the many ways nurses lead and influence change — whether through exceptional clinical care, education and mentorship, research and innovation, advocacy, leadership or lifelong contributions to the profession. From emerging leaders to visionary trailblazers, our honourees exemplify the impact and diversity of nursing in BC.
Award recipients are selected based on demonstrated excellence, alignment with NNPBC’s mission and guiding principles, and a sustained commitment to culturally safe, person-centred, and evidence-informed practice. Each award is open to nurses and nurse practitioners registered and in good standing with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, with some awards recognizing individual achievement and others celebrating the strength of teams.
Together, these criteria uphold what it means to be a nurse in British Columbia: compassionate, courageous, and committed to transforming health for all.
Nursing Awards Category Details
Clinical Impact Award
Honouring nursing professionals whose hands-on practice transforms patient outcomes and community health.
This award honours a nurse or nursing team who demonstrate exceptional clinical practice within the scope of their designation. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated exceptional skill, compassion, and leadership in delivering culturally safe, patient-centered care that meaningfully and impactfully improves lives and communities.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Clinical Impact Award Criteria
- Nominee(s) must demonstrate exceptional performance and understanding of nursing knowledge, sound clinical judgement, professional accountability, and the delivery of culturally safe, patient-centered care. In addition, they must demonstrate distinction in at least four of the following areas:
- Delivering exceptional, compassionate and culturally safe care to patients and families
- Fostering a respectful, inclusive and collaborative environment within and across health care teams
- Advocating strongly for patients, families and culturally safe, equitable care
- Leading or contributing to improvements in care delivery using evidence-informed practice
- Contributing to the development and implementation of programs that benefit patients, communities and/or Indigenous populations
- Committing to ongoing learning and actively sharing knowledge and skills across teams
- Promoting and upholding principles of cultural safety, cultural humility and anti-racism in daily practice
Educator’s Impact Award
Celebrating those who shape and inspire the next generation of nursing professionals.
This award recognizes a nurse or nursing team whose contributions to nursing education, mentorship, and knowledge translation in British Columbia are truly exceptional and exceed the expectations of their professional role. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated transformative impact through innovative teaching, culturally safe mentorship, and strategic knowledge-sharing that shapes the future of nursing. Their work must reflect leadership, creativity, and sustained commitment to advancing nursing education in ways that influence learners, teams and systems.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Educator’s Impact Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate strength in at least four of the following areas:
- Demonstrates deep and current knowledge of subject matter
- Applies effective and innovative pedagogical approaches, including but not limited to lecture, demonstration, discussion, clinical or lab instruction
- Provides mentorship, supervision, consultation or individual learning support
- Designs creative and impactful programs, curricula, courses, seminars or educational tools
- Cultivates an inclusive, engaging and motivating learning environment
- Adapts teaching methods to meet diverse learner needs, including community- or culture-based learning approaches
- Integrates and promotes traditional Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing in nursing education
- Advances nursing knowledge through integration of research and quality improvement findings into educational settings
- Authors or co-authors instructional materials that contribute meaningfully to the nursing field
Emerging Leader Award
Spotlighting early-career nurses already making powerful contributions.
This award celebrates an early-career nurse whose contributions already exceed expectations and signal a trajectory of leadership and innovation. The recipient will have demonstrated exceptional initiative, impact, and alignment with nursing values within their first five years of practice.
The nominee must have graduated from their nursing program within the last five years and be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient will be selected each year.
Emerging Leader Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate strong performance in their early years of practice, with recognized contributions in at least one of the following areas:
- Clinical practice
- Patient or community advocacy
- Innovation in care delivery or systems
- Knowledge translation or education
- Leadership within their team or workplace
- Advancing Indigenous health or culturally safe care
- Nominees must also meet all of the following:
- Demonstrates consistent strength and professionalism in their nursing practice, aligned with their regulatory designation and scope
- Shows commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
- Understands and applies principles of person- and family-centered care
- Demonstrates cultural safety, humility, and equity in practice
- Contributes innovative or progressive ideas to their work and environment
- Demonstrates a positive and collaborative attitude with health care colleagues
- Communicates proactively and effectively within their team and among key partners
Future of Nursing Award
Recognizing nursing students whose dedication and vision inspire transformative thinking, innovative practice and future-focused leadership.
This award recognizes a nursing student currently enrolled in full-time studies in an accredited nursing program in BC who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, deep commitment to learning, and a passion for advancing the nursing profession. The recipient will embody motivation, curiosity, and systems-level thinking that reflect the values and future direction of nursing.
Nominees must be currently enrolled in full-time studies in an accredited nursing education program in BC. Eligible programs include those leading to registration in any designation (LPN, NP, RN, RPN) as well as bridging programs and graduate-level nursing programs. Nominees must be in good academic standing and demonstrate conduct aligned with core nursing values. A maximum of one recipient will be selected each year.
Future of Nursing Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate distinction in all of the following areas:
- Maintains exceptional academic performance and strong evaluations in clinical practice
- Demonstrates profound dedication to learning and professional growth beyond program requirements
- Shows commitment to the nursing profession through volunteerism, advocacy or leadership in student or community initiatives
- Exhibits motivation in pursuing nursing education and practice
- Demonstrates understanding of health systems and the broader societal impact of nursing care
- Upholds and promotes cultural safety, humility and equity in interactions with peers, patients and communities
Innovation & Inquiry Award
Celebrating nursing professionals who transform care through bold innovation and evidence-informed action.
This award recognizes a nurse/nurse practitioner or nursing team whose visionary leadership, creativity, and commitment to evidence have led to transformative change in nursing practice, care delivery, or health systems. The recipient(s) will have advanced new approaches or translated research into practice in ways that measurably improve outcomes for patients, teams or communities.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Innovation & Inquiry Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate strength/impact in at least four of the following areas:
- Innovation in practice: Introducing novel ideas, models, methodologies or technologies that advance nursing practice, education, patient engagement or system performance
- Applying evidence: Leading or contributing to research, quality improvement or knowledge development efforts that directly inform practice or care delivery
- Achieving outcomes: Demonstrating measurable or clearly articulated improvements in patient safety, health outcomes, system efficiency or team collaboration
- Knowledge translation: Facilitating the integration of evidence or innovation into real-world practice environments and promoting adoption by others
- Mentorship and leadership: Serving as a role model, mentor or catalyst for change by inspiring colleagues to embrace inquiry and innovation
- Visibility of nursing knowledge: Sharing work through publications, presentations or consultation at the provincial, national or international level
Inspire to Lead Award
For transformative nursing leaders who guide teams, systems, and transformation.
This award celebrates a nurse or nursing team whose leadership has driven meaningful change across teams, organizations, policies, or systems. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated strategic vision, values-based leadership, and a sustained commitment to equity and excellence in health care.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Inspire to Lead Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate strength in at least four of the following areas:
- Demonstrates significant experience in leading nursing and/or multidisciplinary health care teams toward improved performance and outcomes
- Leads with vision, creativity and integrity, contributing to meaningful improvements for the health care system, workforce, patients and communities
- Champions culturally safe, inclusive and person- and community-centered care across programs, policies or services
- Drives systems-level change and contributes to the integration of health services across organizational or community settings
- Shapes or influences health policy at organizational, regional or provincial levels to improve care delivery and nursing practice
- Leads implementation of new policy or frameworks that have measurable impact on care quality, access or workforce wellbeing
- Fosters an environment of continuous learning where team members feel empowered to evaluate, reflect and innovate in service delivery
- Embodies and models leadership grounded in respect, cultural humility, anti-racism and ethical practice
- Translates frontline nursing knowledge into policy recommendations that address health equity, workforce sustainability and systems performance
- Supports the alignment of team and organizational goals by guiding strategy, implementation and change management
- Strengthens collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, external health partners and community members
- Ensures resources are allocated and used effectively to support safe, high-quality nursing practice.
- Maintains or oversees the use of data, information systems or tools that guide decision-making, quality improvement and service planning
Legacy of Nursing Award
Recognizing transformative leaders whose careers have left a lasting mark on the nursing profession.
This award honours a nurse (active, retired, or semi-retired), whose career has left an enduring and transformative mark on the nursing profession in British Columbia. The recipient will have demonstrated visionary leadership, advocacy, and sustained contributions that shaped nursing practice, policy, and health outcomes at a systemic level.
The nominee must be a current or former registrant of any designation, in good standing, with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (or its predecessor regulatory bodies). A maximum of one recipient will be selected each year.
Legacy of Nursing Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate a distinguished record of achievement over their nursing career and a lasting influence on the nursing profession. This influence may span one or more of the following areas:
- Clinical nursing practice
- Nursing education and mentorship
- Health advocacy and policy development
- Advancement of Indigenous nursing and/or improvements in Indigenous health outcomes
- Contributions to nursing scholarship, research, or quality improvement
- Leadership in nursing innovation or system transformation
- Strengthening and shaping the nursing profession as a whole
Planetary Health Champion Award
co-presented by NNPBC and CANE-BC
Honouring commitment to sustainable practice and environmental advocacy in nursing.
This award recognizes a nurse whose leadership in environmental sustainability and planetary health has gone far beyond professional expectations. The recipient will have advanced climate-resilient health systems and inspired systemic change through advocacy, education and innovation.
The nominee must be an active member of the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment as well as currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Planetary Health Champion Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate impactful contributions in at least four of the following areas:
- Advancing education and awareness around the connections between planetary and human health
- Leading or supporting strategies that promote environmental sustainability and health system resilience
- Advocating for environmentally sustainable practices within healthcare
- Developing or implementing solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change, pollution or biodiversity loss
- Promoting a systems-level shift toward sustainable and equitable health care delivery
- Cultivating a culture of environmental responsibility within the nursing profession and across health teams
Primary Care Champion Award
Presented by NNPBC Primary Care Programs
Honouring exceptional leadership, innovation and measurable impact in primary care.
This award honours a nurse or nursing team whose contributions to primary care reflect exceptional leadership, innovation and measurable impact. The recipient(s) will have strengthened access, equity, and collaboration in ways that redefine the role of nursing in primary care.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Primary Care Champion Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate exceptional commitment and impact across all of the following areas:
- Leadership in Primary Care Practice
- Advocates for improved access, continuity and quality of care in primary care settings
- Demonstrates leadership in advancing models of care that are patient- and family-centered
- Innovation and Improvement
- Implements or contributes to innovative practices, programs or initiatives that enhance primary care delivery
- Uses evidence-informed approaches to improve care coordination, health promotion and chronic disease management
- Collaboration and Advocacy
- Strengthens interdisciplinary and intersectional partnerships to support comprehensive primary care
- Advocates for primary care as a cornerstone of the health system and the nursing profession’s role within it
- Impact on Patients and Communities
- Demonstrates measurable improvements in patient experience, health outcomes or community wellbeing
- Serves as a role model and mentor, inspiring colleagues and advancing the visibility of primary care in nursing
- Leadership in Primary Care Practice
Voice for Change Award
Honouring nurses who champion equity, justice and systemic change through public awareness.
This award honours a nurse or nursing team whose advocacy efforts have led to systemic change and elevated equity, justice, and inclusion in health care. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated professional courage and leadership in advancing the voices of marginalized and underserved communities.
Nominees must be currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. A maximum of one recipient (individual or team) will be selected each year.
Voice for Change Award Criteria
- Nominees must demonstrate commitment to advocacy that drives meaningful and ethical change in health care, meeting all of the following criteria:
- Leads or engages in advocacy rooted in respect, integrity, cultural humility and inclusion
- Centers patients and communities in their advocacy efforts, supporting personal autonomy, decision-making, and dignity — particularly for individuals and groups historically marginalized by systemic inequities
- Demonstrates a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and how they impact underserved or racialized communities
- Advances advocacy initiatives that go beyond standard practice expectations and demonstrate professional courage and leadership
- Aligns their advocacy efforts with the ethical and professional standards outlined in the BC College of Nurses and Midwives’ Code of Ethics
Wisdom in Wellness: Indigenous Health Award
Celebrating Indigenous health leadership rooted in community, culture and healing.
This award celebrates an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) nurse or nursing team whose leadership in Indigenous health reflects deep cultural knowledge, advocacy, and transformative impact. The recipient(s) will have advanced Indigenous health sovereignty, Knowledge and Ways, and wellness through community-rooted care.
Nominee(s) must be Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and currently registered and in good standing in any designation with BCCNM. Multiple recipients (individuals or teams) may be selected each year.
Wisdom in Wellness: Indigenous Health Award Criteria
- Nominee(s) must demonstrate meaningful contributions in one or more of the following areas:
- Creating and sustaining culturally safe environments and nursing care that respect Indigenous values, traditions and worldviews
- Advocating for systemic improvements that recognize and address the social determinants of health affecting Indigenous peoples and communities
- Promoting awareness, education and understanding of cultural safety, health equity and Indigenous health perspectives within the broader health care system
- Supporting Indigenous health sovereignty by honoring the deep connections between community, land and wellness
- Delivering holistic, person- and family-centred nursing care tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous individuals and communities
- Championing Indigenous Nursing knowledge and Traditional Knowledge, advocating for their recognition and integration in health care
- Engaging in research, quality improvement or knowledge development aimed at enhancing nursing practice and health outcomes for Indigenous peoples and communities