Nurses Magazine opens nominations for 2026 awards symposium

The Nurses Magazine has opened nominations for the 2nd Annual Nurses Magazine Awards & Symposium, set for Oct. 22-24, 2026, in Orlando. The event will recognize nurses and nursing organizations across multiple categories as the profession faces workforce shortages and rising care demands.

Why it matters: - The event is designed to spotlight nurses whose leadership, innovation, and service are shaping patient care and the future of healthcare. - The symposium comes as healthcare systems face workforce shortages, more complex patient needs, and stronger demands for equitable care. - The program is expected to draw hundreds of attendees from hospitals, health systems, nursing schools, professional groups, government agencies, healthcare companies, and community organizations.

What happened: - The Nurses Magazine opened nominations for the 2nd Annual Nurses Magazine Awards & Symposium. - The nomination deadline is July 30, 2026. - The event will be held Oct. 22-24, 2026, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida. - Dr. Donel J. Richemond, founder and president of The Nurses Magazine, said the event will bring nursing professionals together to recognize excellence, share ideas, inspire future leaders, and elevate the voice of nursing.

The details: - The symposium is framed as an international celebration of excellence, leadership, innovation, advocacy, and service in nursing. - Nominations are open to organizations, hospitals, universities, nursing schools, associations, healthcare leaders, colleagues, patients, community members, and self-nominations. - Recognized categories include Nurse Executive of the Year, Chief Nursing Officer of the Year, Nurse Educator of the Year, Rising Star in Nursing, Nursing Advocacy, Preceptor of the Year, Nursing School of the Year, Student Nurse Excellence, CNA Excellence, the 40 Under 40 Award, Lifetime Achievement, Trailblazer, and International Nursing Leadership. - Additional honors will be announced during the nomination period. - Signature features include Nurses Got Talent™, which showcases nurses' talents in music, dance, spoken word, and more. - The event also includes the Nurses Brunch & Fashion Show™, described as a celebration of professionalism, confidence, and leadership. - Finalists will be announced in Summer 2026. - The announcement directs people to the 2nd Annual Nurses Magazine Awards & Symposium page to submit nominations, sponsor, exhibit, advertise, or attend. - Ticket buyers are directed to the event's Eventbrite page. - Sponsorship and partnership inquiries go to info@thenursesmagazine.com. - The Nurses Magazine describes itself as a national nursing publication focused on leadership, education, innovation, advocacy, and professional excellence.

Between the lines: - The awards program does more than hand out honors; it is also built as a networking and professional development event. - The mix of clinical awards and performance-based features suggests the organizers want to showcase both technical excellence and personal leadership in nursing. - The international framing and broad nomination pool point to an effort to position the event as a wider industry gathering, not just a local ceremony.

What's next: - Nominators have until July 30, 2026, to submit entries. - Finalists will be revealed in Summer 2026. - The awards and symposium will take place Oct. 22-24, 2026, in Orlando.