Honoring Nursing Leadership: 2023 40 Under 40 Awards

The Nebraska Nurses Association and the Nebraska Organization of Nursing Leadership will recognize 40 emerging nurse leaders who are under 40 years of age from across the state of Nebraska by awarding the 40 Under 40 Awards during the 2023 NNA Annual Convention in Lincoln on October 6 and 7, 2023. Awardees will be honored during the breakfast on October 7, 2023.

Please nominate yourself or someone else using the following process:

  • Nominator (or reference) completes the three Qualification Questions (Download Word Template)
  • Nominee completes the Cover Page and four Essay Questions (Download Word Template)
  • Fill out general information in the form below
  • Attach required documents (in Word format) to the form below using the naming structure in quotes. Be sure to replace “LastName” with your nominee’s last name.
    • Cover page – titled “40u40_CoverPage_LastName”
    • Nominator questions – “40u40_Nominator_LastName”
    • Nominee questions – “40u40_Nominee_LastName”
    • Nominee digital picture in jpg format, “40u40_Jpg_LastName”
  • Submit the form

Nominations are confidential; Names/identifiers are deleted when evaluated

Nomination Deadline: August 25, 2023 at 5pm CST. Please note we are unable to accept nominations after this deadline.

Awardees will be required to register and cover registration fees for the NNA Annual Convention in Lincoln on October 6 and 7, 2023 and are responsible for their own hotel, travel and related expenses. Guest tickets will be available to purchase during the registration process for family and friends to join the awardee for the Awards Breakfast on Saturday, October 7.

  1. Currently licensed as an LPN or RN in the state of Nebraska younger than 40 years of age by September 30, 2023.
  2. Significantly or uniquely contributes to leadership within the nursing profession through clinical practice, education and teaching, administrative leadership, research, writing/publishing, policy involvement/self-governance, and/or healthcare innovation.
  3. Demonstrates leadership/contributions in community affairs, nursing professional organizations, and/or assisting others’ growth and development in these areas.
  4. Positively promotes and advances the nursing profession in the community (local/regional/national/global) through volunteerism or outreach efforts.
  5. Involved in local/state/organizational policy development or legislative work.
  6. Nominees’ essay questions about leadership.
  7. Expectation that the awardee will participate in a nursing professional organization.
  8. Self-nominations will require 1(one) letter of reference which addresses the nominator’s four qualification questions.
  9. Previous award recipients are not eligible.

QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS (completed by Nominator/Reference):
Answer all questions, eliminating nominee name and identifiers.
(Narrative limited to 150 words per question; 1-inch margins; 12 pt. font size.) NOTE weight of each question: Total 40.

  1. Provide information which describes specific contributions the Nominee has made to the nursing profession by providing leadership in community affairs, nursing professional organizations and/or has assisted others to grow and develop in this area. (25 Points)
  2. Describe how the Nominee positively promotes and advances the profession of nursing in the community (local/global) through volunteerism or outreach efforts. (10 points)
  3. Describe involvement in legislative work, policy development – can include organizational policy. (5 points)

ESSAY QUESTIONS (completed by Nominee):
Answer all questions, eliminating nominee name and identifiers.
(Narrative limited to 150 words per question; 1-inch margins; 12 pt. font size.) NOTE weight of each question: Total 60.

  1. How do you see yourself as a nurse leader? (25 Points)
  2. What have you learned that would be helpful to other aspiring leaders? (15 Points)
  3. What is your broader vision for leadership within your organization or community (local/regional/national/global)? (15 Points)
  4. How will you actively engage in a nursing professional organization in the next 2 years? (5 points)

Forty awardees will be selected, according to specified criteria and without names and identifiers, by an objective panel of judges appointed by the NNA and NONL Board of Directors. All nominees are expected to attend the conference and awards breakfast. Awardees will be notified by September 6, 2023, so plans can be made to register for the NNA Annual Conference at a discounted rate (discount code will be provided). Nominators and Guests are welcome to attend the awards breakfast. Registration for the conference and breakfast will be coming soon.

Nomination Form
* = required fields

We're sorry. Nominations closed on 8/27/2023. Please contact with any questions.