Living Legends Selection Process

The Academy recognizes a small group of Fellows as Living Legends in honor of their extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession, sustained over the course of their careers, that continues to have a positive impact.

The Living Legends nomination criteria, as recommended by the Living Legends Task Force and approved by the Board of Directors, has been updated for the 2023 application cycle to include:

  • Describe the extraordinary and sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
  • Share examples of how the nominee or nominee's work will have a positive, enduring impact on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity through their body of work to champion nursing and health care.
Please note that all other nomination and application materials will remain the same.

Criteria

  1. A Living Legend must be a Fellow in good standing and a member of the Academy for at least 15 years.
  2. They must be sponsored by three (3) Regular or Emeritus Fellows in good standing.
  3. A sponsor may only nominate ONE applicant as a Living Legend per year.
    • Academy Board Members and Living Legend Task Force members are not eligible to serve as sponsors.
  4. The nominee must consent to be nominated.
  5. Nominations should address the following:
    1. Describe the extraordinary and sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
    2. Share examples of how the nominee or nominee's work will have a positive, enduring impact on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity through their body of work to champion nursing and health care.

Nomination and Sponsorship Requirements

  1. The 2023 Nomination Form will be available in April - check back then to access the form.
  2. Three (3) support letters, one from each sponsor (co-signatory is not permitted), addressing the criteria for the Living Legend nominee, must be included from each of the three sponsors in good standing.
  3. A condensed biosketch or CV (may not to exceed five pages) of the nominee.
  4. A $475 nomination fee is required. (The Academy can only process the Living Legends Nomination fee payment from one sponsor. An invoice will be emailed to the sponsor indicated in the "Bill to" field on the submission form. Payments by check must be postmarked by the nomination due date.)
Please note, addendums, attachments, or additional materials are not permitted and will not be accepted or reviewed if submitted. Only the nomination form, three (3) support letters (not to exceed 3 pages per support letter), and a condensed biosketch or CV (not to exceed five pages) should be submitted and will be reviewed.