Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Awards

This annual award recognizes AACN member institutions involved in highly productive and model academic-practice partnerships.

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The submission deadline for applications is May 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm (ET).

This award is presented annually at the AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference.

  • The academic-practice partnership demonstrates an innovative and sustained relationship that extends beyond clinical placements.
  • The partnership demonstrates a commitment to the Guiding Principles for Academic-Practice Partnerships developed by AACN and AONL. 
  • The academic-practice partnership demonstrates positive outcomes that are measurable.
  • The partnership has been in place for at least a year.

Stay tuned for 2025 online application. To nominate, submit the following documents to AACN:

  • One-page description of the Academic-Practice Partnership
  • Goals and Outcomes Matrix

You can utilize online templates or create your own document for the Goals and Outcomes Matrix. Each school may submit only one award nomination per year. The deadline for nominations is May 15, 2025.

View exemplars and sample submissions.

The awards committee is looking for submissions that represent the full spectrum of AACN member institutions, including nominations from small schools and private schools. All nominations will be reviewed by an awards review committee and approved by the AACN Board of Directors. The review committee reserves the right not to recommend an award in any given year. The dean/director of the program receiving the award and the practice representative will be recognized at the AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference and highlighted in AACN newsletters and press releases as well as on the AACN website. A plaque will be provided to both the dean and the practice partner.

2024

The College of St. Scholastica and Essentia

The University of Minnesota and Collaboratory of Collaboratories

UT Health San Antonio and Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital

2023

Duke University School of Nursing and Duke University Health System

University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing’s and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and the Jefferson County Department of Health

2022

Grand Valley State University College of Nursing and McLaren Health Care

Illinois State University College of Nursing and Community Health Care Clinic

Rush University College of Nursing and CommunityHealth

2021

University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing, Jackson Public Schools, and South Delta School District

Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies and Northwell Health System

University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Nursing and Cherokee Health Systems

2020

Farmingdale State College, Molloy College, St. Josephs College, and the Asthma Coalition of Long Island

2019

Emory University and Emory Healthcare

University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Maple Knoll Communities

Old Dominion University, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, and Sentara

2018

University of the Incarnate Word School of Nursing and Health Professions and Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital

University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions and Kaiser Permanente Nurse Scholars Academy

University of Utah College of Nursing and Juvenile Justice Services

2017

University at Buffalo School of Nursing and Catholic Health System's Sisters of Charity Hospital

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa School of Nursing and the Queen's Health System

University of Minnesota School of Nursing and Fairview Health System/MHealth

2016

Northern Kentucky University (NKU) College of Health Professions and St. Elizabeth Healthcare (SEH)

Research College of Nursing (RCN) and Research Medical Center (RMC)

Rush University College of Nursing (RUCON) and the Chicago Public School System (CPS)

2015

Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health Innovations and Mayo Clinic Arizona

Stony Brook University and Stony Brook University Hospital

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center

2014

University of South Alabama and University of South Alabama Medical Center

Northeast Region VA Nursing Alliance (NERVANA) and VA Boston/Bedford Health Care Systems

University of Iowa and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

2013

University of California-San Francisco School of Nursing and Alameda County Center for Healthy Schools and Communities

The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Nursing and OSU Health System

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and PENN Medicine

Questions?

For more information, contact Cassandra Godzik, Director of Nursing Education Initiatives, at cgodzik@aacnnursing.org.

Congratulations to the 2024 Award Recipients!

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The College of St. Scholastica and Essentia Health

The University of Minnesota and Collaboratory of Collaboratories

UT Health San Antonio and Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital

Award recipients will be recognized at the AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference

Academic-Practice Partnerships

See resources available for nursing leaders looking to develop and sustain effective academic-practice partnerships.

Learn More