Award Nominations Due July 31, 2025
The Awards Program of the Ohio Nurses Association is designed to honor outstanding contributions to nursing or health-related professions. The awards are presented at the ONA biennial conventions.
Recipients of ONA Awards are selected according to the following procedures.
1. The nominee must be:
- A current ONA member (for at least one year)
2. Nominations may be submitted by:
- ONA Members, or
- ONA Staff
3. All nominations must be submitted in the format or on the forms provided by the Association.
4. Nominations shall be unrestricted by considerations of nationality, race, religion, creed, lifestyle, color, gender, health status, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
5. The originators of nominations must provide a narrative response to each criterion that describes explicitly and concisely how the nominee meets the award criteria.
6. The originators of nominations may supply no more than two letters of support on plain paper (no letterhead) for the nominee. The letters should describe how the nominee has met the award criteria. Letters of support are not substitutes for the narrative responses or the curriculum vitae or resume.
7. All nominees will be notified prior to the presentation. The groups or individuals making the nominations will also be notified.
Current Awards:
Dorothy A. Cornelius Leadership Award: Dorothy A. Cornelius served as ONA executive director from 1957 to 1983 and executive director emeritus from 1983 until her death in 1992. Her accomplishments brought her citations from U.S. presidents and heads of state of other countries. She had ONA and ANA Honorary Recognition and numerous other awards. It was under Dorthy's leadership that ONA established the E&GW labor program. The original ONA headquarters was named the Dorothy A. Cornelius Building in her honor. The Dorothy A. Cornelius Leadership Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and participation in and contributions to the purposes of the Ohio Nurses Association.
Excellence in Non-Traditional Nursing Role Award: The Excellence in Non-Traditional Nursing Role Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a nurse in a non-traditional role that supports client populations, nurses, and nursing practice. This award is for employed and volunteer nursing practices in a non-traditional role or setting that does not qualify for another practice award.
Excellence in Education Award: The Excellence in Education Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of an educator. It includes educators in continuing education and staff development positions and programs.
Excellence in Practice Award - Advanced Practice: The Excellence in Practice Award - Advanced Practice, recognizes the unique accomplishments of advanced practice professionals who provide care to patients. This award will be given to an advanced practice professional (any setting). The Advanced Practice Professional's accomplishments and innovative approaches should demonstrate direct care impact or impact on the overall system which affects the direct care of patients.
Excellence in Practice Award - Staff Nurse: The Excellence in Practice Award – Staff Nurse recognizes the staff nurse’s accomplishments and innovative approaches which demonstrate direct care impact on one patient or group of patients. This award is given to a staff nurse in any setting. The staff nurse's accomplishments and innovative approaches should demonstrate direct care impact or impact on the overall system which affects the direct care of patients.
Excellence in Research Award: The Excellence in Research Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a nurse/healthcare professional researcher and/or the contribution of an individual nurse/healthcare professional to nursing/healthcare research.
Excellence in Political Action Award: The Excellence in Political Action Award recognizes outstanding leadership or participation in political action.
Elizabeth K. Porter Award: Elizabeth K. Porter served as president of the Ohio Nurses Association (1958-1960). Throughout her career she championed the cause of staff nurses and demanded that they have the right to self-determination in matters affecting their practice and employment conditions. ONA has bestowed upon her the highest award, Honorary Recognition. The Elizabeth K. Porter Award recognizes the contribution that an individual ONA member has made to their Local Unit and, thereby, to the security of nurses and health professionals.
The following awards below will be given in two categories:
1) Local units with less than 500 union members, and
2) Local units with more than 500 union members.
Adversity Award - recognizing a local unit who has accomplished something remarkable against great odds
Outstanding Local Unit Leader Award - recognizing a union leader whose significant contributions to thier local unit has led to significant improvement in the work environment and ultimately, the patient care environment.
Outstanding Grievance Representative Award - recognizing a union member whose advocacy through the grievance process truly stands out.
Rising Star Award - recognizing a new union leader who shows exceptional promise of leadership and contribution to their local unit and ONA.
Attach all supporting materials and letters of support as described in the Procedures for Nominations. A CV or Resume will only be accepted for the Excellence in Research Award. All of the requested information must be submitted for consideration by the Awards Committee by July 31st of convention year (odd years).
ONA Convention Awards
Award Nominations Due July 31, 2025
The Awards Program of the Ohio Nurses Association is designed to honor outstanding contributions to nursing or health-related professions. The awards are presented at the ONA biennial conventions.
Recipients of ONA Awards are selected according to the following procedures.
1. The nominee must be:
- A current ONA member (for at least one year)
2. Nominations may be submitted by:
- ONA Members, or
- ONA Staff
3. All nominations must be submitted in the format or on the forms provided by the Association.
4. Nominations shall be unrestricted by considerations of nationality, race, religion, creed, lifestyle, color, gender, health status, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
5. The originators of nominations must provide a narrative response to each criterion that describes explicitly and concisely how the nominee meets the award criteria.
6. The originators of nominations may supply no more than two letters of support on plain paper (no letterhead) for the nominee. The letters should describe how the nominee has met the award criteria. Letters of support are not substitutes for the narrative responses or the curriculum vitae or resume.
7. All nominees will be notified prior to the presentation. The groups or individuals making the nominations will also be notified.
Current Awards:
Dorothy A. Cornelius Leadership Award: Dorothy A. Cornelius served as ONA executive director from 1957 to 1983 and executive director emeritus from 1983 until her death in 1992. Her accomplishments brought her citations from U.S. presidents and heads of state of other countries. She had ONA and ANA Honorary Recognition and numerous other awards. It was under Dorthy's leadership that ONA established the E&GW labor program. The original ONA headquarters was named the Dorothy A. Cornelius Building in her honor. The Dorothy A. Cornelius Leadership Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and participation in and contributions to the purposes of the Ohio Nurses Association.
Excellence in Non-Traditional Nursing Role Award: The Excellence in Non-Traditional Nursing Role Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a nurse in a non-traditional role that supports client populations, nurses, and nursing practice. This award is for employed and volunteer nursing practices in a non-traditional role or setting that does not qualify for another practice award.
Excellence in Education Award: The Excellence in Education Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of an educator. It includes educators in continuing education and staff development positions and programs.
Excellence in Practice Award - Advanced Practice: The Excellence in Practice Award - Advanced Practice, recognizes the unique accomplishments of advanced practice professionals who provide care to patients. This award will be given to an advanced practice professional (any setting). The Advanced Practice Professional's accomplishments and innovative approaches should demonstrate direct care impact or impact on the overall system which affects the direct care of patients.
Excellence in Practice Award - Staff Nurse: The Excellence in Practice Award – Staff Nurse recognizes the staff nurse’s accomplishments and innovative approaches which demonstrate direct care impact on one patient or group of patients. This award is given to a staff nurse in any setting. The staff nurse's accomplishments and innovative approaches should demonstrate direct care impact or impact on the overall system which affects the direct care of patients.
Excellence in Research Award: The Excellence in Research Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a nurse/healthcare professional researcher and/or the contribution of an individual nurse/healthcare professional to nursing/healthcare research.
Excellence in Political Action Award: The Excellence in Political Action Award recognizes outstanding leadership or participation in political action.
Elizabeth K. Porter Award: Elizabeth K. Porter served as president of the Ohio Nurses Association (1958-1960). Throughout her career she championed the cause of staff nurses and demanded that they have the right to self-determination in matters affecting their practice and employment conditions. ONA has bestowed upon her the highest award, Honorary Recognition. The Elizabeth K. Porter Award recognizes the contribution that an individual ONA member has made to their Local Unit and, thereby, to the security of nurses and health professionals.
The following awards below will be given in two categories:
1) Local units with less than 500 union members, and
2) Local units with more than 500 union members.
Adversity Award - recognizing a local unit who has accomplished something remarkable against great odds
Outstanding Local Unit Leader Award - recognizing a union leader whose significant contributions to thier local unit has led to significant improvement in the work environment and ultimately, the patient care environment.
Outstanding Grievance Representative Award - recognizing a union member whose advocacy through the grievance process truly stands out.
Rising Star Award - recognizing a new union leader who shows exceptional promise of leadership and contribution to their local unit and ONA.
Attach all supporting materials and letters of support as described in the Procedures for Nominations. A CV or Resume will only be accepted for the Excellence in Research Award. All of the requested information must be submitted for consideration by the Awards Committee by July 31st of convention year (odd years).