Nominations

IEN of the Year Award

Recognizing an internationally educated nurse who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, leadership, dedication, and impact in nursing practice.

IEN Champion of the Year Award

Honouring an individual, mentor, advocate, or ally who has made a meaningful contribution to supporting internationally educated nurses.

IEN Employer of the Year Award

Recognizing an employer that demonstrates leadership in recruitment, integration, mentorship, inclusion, and retention of internationally educated nurses.

IEN Service Recognition — 20 Years or More

Celebrating internationally educated nurses who have contributed 20 years or more of dedicated service to nursing and healthcare.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Honouring exceptional long-term contribution, leadership, service, and lasting impact within nursing, healthcare, and the IEN community.

IEN of the Year Award

Eligibility criteria

• Be an internationally educated nurse who completed their initial nursing education outside of Canada.
• Hold current nursing registration in Nova Scotia.
• Can be a registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse.
• Maintain good standing with the NSCN.
• Have been actively practicing in Nova Scotia in any setting, including clinical, academic, research, or policy, for at least three years.

Award criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on demonstrated excellence in at least three of the following criteria:

• Demonstrates excellence in nursing practice, including clinical, academic, and/or research.
• Demonstrates formal or informal leadership, acting as a role model or leading projects.
• Evidence of supporting and mentoring other IENs.
• Contributes to improvement in healthcare processes.
• Demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning.
• Demonstrates community impact through outreach, volunteerism, public engagement, or community leadership.
• Demonstrates resilience and perseverance transitioning into a new healthcare system.

IEN Champion of the Year Award

Eligibility criteria

• For individuals who are not IENs.
• Not restricted to nurses.
• Can be individuals or groups.

Award criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on demonstrated excellence in at least three of the following criteria:

• Evidence of active advocacy for IENs in their integration into the workforce and/or community.
• Evidence of successful collaborations with IENs.
• Demonstrates formal or informal leadership in advocating for IENs with employers, government, private sector, or other partners.
• Challenges barriers and inequities affecting IENs.
• Provides formal or informal mentorship to IENs.
• Contributes to an inclusive workplace culture.
• Contributes to education and awareness about the IEN journey and competence.

IEN Employer of the Year Award

Eligibility criteria

• Any institution or unit.
• Private or public.

Award criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on demonstrated excellence in at least three of the following criteria:

• Evidence of actively supporting IENs in their licensure and credentialing process.
• Provides tailored orientation that addresses the unique needs of IENs.
• Evidence of innovative strategies to support IEN integration in the institution and/or community.
• Evidence of proportionate IEN representation among the nursing workforce.
• Evidence of continuous recruitment and retention of IENs over the past three years.
• Evidence of effective support services to facilitate IEN integration, including mentorship programs and pairing IENs with experienced staff.
• Evidence of supporting IENs’ continuous learning and professional development.
• Actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in policies and practice.
• Has processes in place to address racism and discrimination.
• Evidence of IEN satisfaction with the employer.

IEN Service Recognition

Eligibility criteria

• Licensed to practice in Nova Scotia.
• Minimum of 20 years of nursing practice in any setting in Nova Scotia.

Award criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on demonstrated excellence in at least three of the following criteria:

• Demonstrates sustained commitment to the profession and community.
• Enhances care for diverse populations.
• Demonstrates formal or informal leadership and acts as a role model for colleagues and other IENs.
• Provides mentorship and support for other nurses, especially IENs transitioning to practice.
• Has contributed to the integration of IENs in the workplace and community.
• Advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrates ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
• Demonstrates community impact beyond the workplace.
• Demonstrates lasting impact.

IEN Lifetime Achievement Award

Eligibility criteria

• Demonstrates a 35+ year career in nursing.
• May be retired or actively practicing as an IEN.

Award criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on demonstrated excellence in at least three of the following criteria:

• Shows sustained excellence and commitment.
• Upholds the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.
• Evidence of influential leadership, such as playing a key role in shaping programs, policies, teams, or systems.
• Evidence of contributions to advancing IEN integration.
• Evidence of mentorship and capacity building, including contribution to the growth and success of others.
• Evidence of commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Evidence of professional contributions and scholarship.
• Evidence of community impact.