The Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing

Nominations are open through September 30, 2025.

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The Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing is the highest honor bestowed by AORN. This award recognizes an individual whose work and accomplishments have had global implications on perioperative nursing in the areas of practice, education and research.

The Award for Excellence acknowledges the body of work of a perioperative nurse and must clearly articulate all three areas: practice, education, and research.

Applicants must include documentation of individual contribution(s) in each focus area of the award: practice, education and research noting the nature of the contributions, significance, outcomes and impact. These must be substantiated in the CV. Applicants should strive to highlight each area with concrete examples noting the impact on a largescale level (i.e. worldwide, national, etc.)

Consideration is also given to the applicant’s contribution to AORN. While contributions in a national leadership position (i.e. Officer, Board of Directors, and Committee Chair) are extremely important to the ongoing work of the Association, they are recognized as group contributions unless the applicant has expanded significantly and individually on the work of the group.

The application for this Award is self-initiated. Applicants are required to have ONE endorsement letter from a colleague who has significant knowledge of their expertise and impact on the profession of perioperative nursing.

Applicants must have a degree in Nursing at the Baccalaureate, Masters, or Doctoral level, must be an active member of AORN, and a perioperative nurse for at least five years and must hold CNOR active or emeritus.

The submission should be concise and well written without grammatical errors. Each area of focus should stand alone without replication or the information except when it is pertinent.

Resources

Award for Excellence Selection Panel

Chair:

  • Joy Don Baker, PhD, RN, CNOR(E), CNE, FAORN, FAAN

Members:

  • Paula Graling, DNP, RN, CSN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN
  • Cassendra Munro, PhD, BS, RN, CNOR, FAORN, FAAN
  • Joan Spear, MBA, RN, CNOR(E), CRCST
  • Cynthia Spry, MA, MSN, RN
  • Doreen Wagner, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAORN, FAAN
  • Joshua Wymer, DNP, RN, CNOR, CSSM(E), NEA-BC, CHCIO, CDH-E, FACHE, FAAN

Staff Liaisons:

  • Crystal Fuentes
  • Renae Battié, MN, RN, CNOR, FAAN