Northeast Florida Excellence in Nursing Awards
Honoring Northeast Florida’s Nursing Heroes
The remarkable efforts of nurses in Northeast Florida often go unrecognized. They exhibit selfless care, compassion, and service each day across every practice setting. Jacksonville Magazine and the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida are proud to host the inaugural Excellence in Nursing Awards.
Whether working in a private practice, hospital system, school, or specialty setting, every nurse in our region is eligible. Nominations are reviewed by a distinguished selection committee.
Eligibility Requirement
Nominees must be actively practicing in one of the following Northeast Florida counties:
Questions about eligibility? Contact us.
Presented By
Jacksonville Magazine
UNF Nursing Advisory Board
Nomination deadline: Aug. 31, 2026 | Finalists announced December 2026 | Winners revealed February 2027
Award Categories
16 categories recognize nurses across every practice setting.
Find the one that best describes your nominee
Advanced Practice
Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives in any setting.
Ambulatory Care
Care coordination, navigation, dialysis, clinic-based nursing, forensic nursing, urgent care, and telehealth.
Community / Public Health
Home care, correctional nursing, occupational health, public health departments, school nursing, and parish nursing.
Emergency & Critical Care
Emergency departments, flight nursing, ICU, progressive care and telemetry, PACU, and pediatric ICU.
Hospice – Palliative Care
Nurses in hospice, palliative care, or dementia and memory care settings.
Maternal-Child Nursing
Prenatal, high-risk maternal-fetal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn special care, NICU, and women’s health.
Medical Surgical Nursing
Inpatient medical-surgical units, post-operative care units, and med/surg pediatrics in acute care settings.
Nurse Educator / Researcher
Academic nursing faculty at any degree level, and nurses advancing evidence-based practice through research.
Nurse Leader
Frontline or administrative leaders including nursing supervisors, infection control, case managers, and quality improvement professionals.
Nursing Informatics
EHR implementation, clinical workflow optimization, and healthcare software and app development across hospitals, IT vendors, and government agencies.
Post-Acute Care
Skilled nursing, intermediate care, long-term care, and assisted living settings.
Psychiatric & Mental Health
Psychiatric, mental health, and substance use disorder nurses in inpatient or community-based settings for adults or children.
Rehabilitation Nursing
Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation nurses working with adults or children.
Senior Nurse Leader
Senior-level leaders including nurse managers, directors, and chief nursing officers.
Specialty Care Nursing
Cardiovascular, neurology, transplant, and oncology units in pediatric or adult care settings.
Surgical Services
Operating room nurses in hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers, including circulating and scrub nurses.
Key Dates
Mark your calendar. The nomination deadline is approaching.
Aug. 31
2026
Nomination deadline
December
2026
Finalists announced
Details to follow
February
2027
Winners revealed at awards event
Details to follow
Spring
2027
Featured in Jacksonville Magazine
Details to follow
How to Nominate
Nominations take just a few minutes. Here is what to expect.
Eligibility Reminder
Nominees must be actively practicing in one of the following counties: Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, or St. Johns.
Nomination deadline: Aug. 31, 2026
Steps in the Process
What happens after you submit a nomination
Request the CV / Resume
The nominator contacts the nominee and requests a copy of their CV or resume. Need help building one? LinkedIn Learning offers a resume course.
CV / Resume Follow-Up
If the CV or resume is not submitted with the application, the nominee will be contacted directly and asked to submit one before the deadline.
Judging Panel Review
After nominations close on Aug. 31, 2026, all applications and CVs are forwarded to a judging panel of experienced nurse leaders. The panel selects the top 3 to 4 candidates in each category.
Photo Sessions Begin
Starting in October 2026, the top 3 to 4 candidates in each category will be invited to have their photos taken by photographers at Jacksonville Magazine.
Winners Featured in Jacksonville Magazine
Winners in all 16 categories will be featured in Jacksonville Magazine in spring 2027, alongside their photo and a brief bio.
Questions?
For questions about the awards or the nomination process, contact:
Debra Harrison