Clinical Excellence Award

The Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN) established the Clinical Excellence Award to acknowledge the contribution of outstanding critical care nurse clinicians. This award recognises excellence in clinical practice as nominated by patients or colleagues.

Award Structure

From 2025, nominations will be recognised at a state level. Each ACCCN State Branch will select a State Clinical Excellence Award recipient in May each year.

The selected State Clinical Excellence Award recipient will receive:

• A certificate of recognition
• A monetary prize of $300

All state recipients will then progress for consideration in the National ACCCN Clinical Excellence Award for Critical Care Nursing, which will be announced at the WFPICCS World Congress/ANZICS ACCCN ASM in September 2026.

The National Award recipient will receive:

• A certificate of recognition
• A monetary prize of $2,000
• Complimentary program registration for the WFPICCS World Congress/ANZICS ACCCN ASM (flights and accommodation at the winner’s expense)

Nomination Criteria

• The nominated nurse must be a current financial member of ACCCN.
• The nominated nurse is recognised by colleagues and/or patients as an outstanding critical care nurse who demonstrates a high-level of commitment to their profession and their role.
• The nominated nurse demonstrates excellence in practice across the four domains of the ACCCN Practice Standards:

1. Professional Practice
   Demonstrates excellence in relation to the professional, legal and ethical responsibilities of critical care, protecting the rights of patients and their families through accountability for their own practice and the ability to interpret unfamiliar legal and/or ethical situations.
2. Provision and Coordination of Care
   Demonstrates excellence in nursing practices that care for the physiological, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and family, establishing and sustaining a holistic nurse–patient–family relationship that optimises wellbeing.
3. Critical Thinking and Analysis
   Demonstrates excellence in applying specialised knowledge, clinical decision-making, advanced patient assessment skills, and research evidence to provide specialised, evidence-based nursing care.
4. Collaboration and Leadership
   Demonstrates excellence in the professional development of self and others through engagement in both formal and informal leadership and education roles and activities.

Nomination and Selection Process

• Nomination Period

1. • Nominations open on 1^st February 2026 and close at midnight on 10^th March 2026

• Eligibility and Verification

1. • Nominations must include the nominee’s name and contact details.
   • The nominee’s ACCCN membership will be verified by the ACCCN National Office prior to assessment.

• Submission Requirements

1. • Nominations may be submitted by colleagues or patients.
   • Supporters of the nomination agree to the publication of their name in promotional material.
   • Nominations must be received in writing by COB on the closing date.
   • Nominations should include a written statement that clearly articulates how this member has demonstrated clinical excellence.
   • Nominations may be further supported by additional evidence such as supportive statements, publications, trial or project outcomes, innovative practice initiatives or even anecdotal evidence such as written patient statements.

• State-Level Judging

1. • Each ACCCN State Branch will convene a review panel to assess nominations and select a State Clinical Excellence Award recipient.
   • State recipients will be advised and announced in April.

• National-Level Judging

1. • Each selected state nomination will be considered for the National ACCCN Clinical Excellence Award for Critical Care Nursing.
   • The National Award will be judged by a panel convened by the ACCCN Board of Directors.
   • If a member of the Board is nominated, this will constitute a conflict of interest, and they will remove themselves from the discussion and voting process.

• Decision and Notification

1. • The ACCCN Board’s decision will be final.
   • Nominating persons may be contacted to clarify details contained in the nomination.
   • The National Award recipient will be notified directly by phone and confirmed in writing by the ACCCN President.

• Award Presentation

1. • The National Award will be announced at the WFPICCS World Congress/ASM in September 2026.
   • The winner is strongly encouraged to attend the event.
   • Conference registration will be provided by ACCCN as part of the prize; travel and accommodation are at the recipient’s expense.
   • The result will be promoted in ACCCN publications, newsletters, and social media.

Conditions of Entry

• Entry is open to all financial members of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses, including members of the ACCCN Board of Directors.
• All entries must comply with the eligibility and nomination requirements outlined in this document.
• State winners may have aspects of their nomination shared in ACCCN promotional or professional publications, with appropriate consent.
• The decisions of the state and national judging panels are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
• ACCCN reserves the right to withhold an award in any year where nominations do not meet the required standard.

Key Dates

• Nominations open: 1 February 2026 
• Nominations close: 10 March 2026
• State recipients announced: 20 April 2026
• National recipient notified: 25 May 2026
• National recipient announced: 30 September 2026 – WFPICCS World Congress/ANZICS ACCCN ASM