International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame

Eligibility

All active Sigma members worldwide are eligible for this award.

Members may not self-nominate. Current Sigma Board of Directors, Sigma elected international committee members, Sigma staff, Sigma consultants and contracted staff, and members of the judging committee are not eligible to receive this award, serve as nominators, or write letters of support. Members of appointed committees may participate in the award process.

Criteria

Nomination should show evidence of meeting the following criteria:

1. The researcher’s program of research has a measurable, sustained, and current impact that includes more than one of the following: changes in widespread clinical practice; changes in national and/or international policy; changes in nursing science through the development of new methods; bringing existing methods from other fields into nursing science. Other kinds of substantive and widespread impact will be considered.
2. The researcher has a distinguished and recent (within the last five years) record of publications in nursing and non-nursing peer-reviewed journals: firstauthored, co-authored, and presentations.
3. The researcher has received external funding, university funding, or unique organizational support, with a justified unique context of funding.
4. Researcher mentors novice researchers with demonstrated scholarly outputs. Evidence includes but is not limited to the number of past and current mentees (master’s, PhD, novice, and clinical researchers).

View the Criteria PDF

Submission Requirements

The supporting documents required below should address all the above criteria. All materials must be submitted in English. Entries that do not meet all the criteria and requirements below will be disqualified. A complete online nomination consists of:

• Online entry form
• Supporting narrative from the nominator: Using the criteria as subheadings, clearly stating the researcher’s overall area of expertise and sustained impact (1- 2 pages)
• Two letters of support from diverse sources supporting the criteria (interprofessional colleague, colleague, supervisor, co-worker, etc.—excluding nominator)
• Nominee’s curriculum vitae
• A listing of at least 10 recent (within the last five years) publications that showcase the criteria, including nursing and non-nursing peer-reviewed publications • Letter of acceptance: Statement from the nominee accepting the nomination and agreeing to attend Sigma’s International Nursing Research Congress if selected as an honoree
• Supporting documentation as further evidence of nomine

See International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Honorees

"This recognition is profoundly personal — but it is not mine alone. It belongs to the mentors who saw potential in me before I could see it myself. The colleagues and collaborators who strengthened the science. The students and mentees who continue to inspire me. The research participants who trusted us with their stories. And the family members who supported a dream long before there was any evidence of where it might lead."

— Edwin N. Aroke, PhD, CRNA, FADLN, FAANA, FAAN 2026 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Inductee