Award Programs

The CNA board of directors is responsible for honouring those who have made an outstanding contribution to nursing.

In March 2007, the board added five new domain awards, known as the CNA Order of Merit Awards. The orders of merit honour excellence in clinical nursing practice, administration, education, research and policy. They are also awarded at the CNA biennial convention.

The Jeanne Mance Award is the highest recognition of nursing achievement that CNA offers. Named after one of Canada’s most inspirational nurses, Jeanne Mance, it has been awarded at the CNA biennial convention since 1971.

The CNA Certification Program created the annual Employer Recognition Award in 1999 to honour employers who have demonstrated exemplary support for the certification process in nursing specialties.

In 2008, the year of CNA’s centennial, CNA created the Centennial Awards, a one-time award given to 100 exceptional registered nurses whose personal and professional contributions have made an outstanding and significant impact on the nursing profession.