Second Annual Nurses Magazine
Awards & Symposium 2026
An International Celebration of Excellence
Honoring the Best in Nursing
Leadership & Excellence
The 2nd Annual Nurses Magazine Symposium & Awards returns to Orlando, Florida — August 20–22, 2026 — as an International Celebration of Excellence. This flagship event brings together nursing professionals, educators, leaders, and healthcare innovators from across the nation and beyond.
All honorees are featured in The Nurses Magazine® print and digital editions and celebrated across TNM’s platforms reaching 6.3M+ annually.
Three Days. Two Ceremonies.
One Unforgettable Celebration.
Join nursing professionals, leaders, educators, and innovators for three landmark days of symposium sessions, recognition ceremonies, and networking in Orlando, Florida.
Second Annual Nurses Magazine Awards & Symposium
An International Celebration of ExcellenceWhat to expect
- Symposium sessions and leadership workshops
- Friday Awards Brunch — 4 award categories
- Saturday Awards Gala — 12 award categories
- Networking with national nursing leaders
- Red carpet and professional photography
Key dates
- Nominations open: March 22, 2026
- Nominations deadline: May 30, 2026
- Finalists notified: July 30, 2026
- Winners announced: August 22, 2026
Awards Brunch & Gala Ceremony
All 16 Categories — Click to View Criteria
Click any category to expand the full eligibility criteria. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged.
How Winners Are Selected
Timeline
- Nominations open: March 22, 2026
- Nominations deadline: May 30, 2026
- Finalists notified: July 30, 2026
- Winners announced: August 22, 2026
Eligibility
- Must be active in nursing or healthcare
- Open to US and international nominees
- Self-nominations accepted and encouraged
- One nomination per nominee per category
- All nominees must attend the ceremony in Orlando, FL (August 20–22, 2026)
- 40 Under 40: under 40 by August 22, 2026
- Nursing Student: min 3.3 GPA, 50% curriculum complete
Why This Award Matters
Recognition of nursing leadership drives professional advancement across the entire healthcare system. The TNM Awards elevate deserving nurses to a national and international stage, amplifying their influence and inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders. Being honored by The Nurses Magazine connects recipients with a platform reaching over 6.3 million professionals, creating lasting career and community impact. This award exists because the nursing profession deserves champions who are seen, celebrated, and remembered.
Who May Submit a Nomination
The TNM Awards welcomes nominations from across the nursing and healthcare community. Peer recognition, organizational endorsement, and leadership nominations carry significant weight with the selection committee. All submissions are reviewed under the same rigorous standards.
Independent Judging & Selection Process
The TNM Awards uses a rigorous, multi-step selection process overseen by an independent judging panel drawn from across the nursing and healthcare community. All decisions are final.
Judging Panel Composition
- Nurse executives and Chief Nursing Officers
- Nursing educators and academic leaders
- Clinical leaders and advanced practice nurses
- Healthcare administrators and policy professionals
- Public health professionals and community advocates
- Past TNM Award honorees
- Community and industry leaders committed to healthcare excellence
Judge Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated professional credentials and advanced nursing or healthcare qualifications
- Recognized leadership at the regional, national, or international level
- Minimum five years of experience in their field
- Commitment to advancing healthcare excellence and professional integrity
- Diversity of background, specialty, and geographic representation
- No active financial or personal conflicts with nominated individuals
Five-Step Selection Process
Awards Scoring Rubric & Evaluation Framework
All nominations are evaluated using a standardized 100-point rubric. Each criterion is scored independently by judges on its own merits. The total composite score determines finalist and winner selection.
Transparency, Eligibility & Participation Policy
The Nurses Magazine is committed to conducting the TNM Awards with the highest standards of fairness, integrity, and public trust. The following policies govern all aspects of the nomination, selection, and recognition process.
Free Nominations
Submitting a nomination for the TNM Awards is completely free of charge. There is no application fee, submission fee, or processing charge at any stage of the nomination process. Any individual or organization may nominate a deserving candidate at no cost.
No Purchase Required to Win
Making a purchase of any kind — including tickets, advertising, magazine features, or sponsorship packages — has no bearing on a nominee's eligibility, finalist status, or likelihood of winning. Award selections are made exclusively on the basis of merit as evaluated by the independent judging panel.
Separation of Recognition & Sponsorship
Sponsorship of the TNM Awards event is a distinct and separate program from the awards selection process. Sponsors receive event and marketing benefits; sponsorship does not influence, accelerate, or affect the outcome of any award category. The judging panel operates independently of the sponsorship program.
Integrity & Public Trust
The TNM Awards program is designed to honor genuine excellence in nursing. Any attempt to manipulate, misrepresent, or compromise the integrity of the selection process will result in disqualification. TNM reserves the right to revoke any award if post-announcement information reveals eligibility violations or misrepresentation.
⚠ Attendance Is Required
All nominees, finalists, and honorees must attend the TNM Awards celebration to receive recognition and maintain eligibility. This policy ensures that every honoree is personally recognized and that the integrity of the award ceremony is preserved. The ceremony takes place August 20–22, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Nominations for individuals who confirm they cannot attend will not be accepted.
Submit Your Nomination
Select your award category first — the form will show only the fields relevant to that category.
TNM Awards 2026 — Nomination Form
Second Annual Awards & Symposium | August 20–22, 2026 | Orlando, Florida
Nomination Received — Thank You!
Your nomination has been submitted successfully. You will receive a confirmation email shortly. Finalists will be notified by July 30, 2026.
Select the category you are nominating for. The form will then show only the fields and guidance relevant to that specific award.
Must be currently enrolled, minimum 3.3 GPA, and have completed at least 50% of the nursing curriculum.
Nominee must be under the age of 40 on August 22, 2026 (born after August 22, 1986).
Be specific — include numbers, program names, patient outcomes, or policies changed. Stronger statements receive more committee consideration.
Partner With the TNM Awards 2026
Sponsorship packages from $3,499 to $50,000. Event signage, program advertising, VIP tickets, social recognition, and more.
Looking for the 2025 Award Winners? View the 2025 TNM Award Winners >
