Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Advancing your practice, your career, and our community.

Honor Your Colleagues

Award Nominations

Nominations closed at noon on July 17, 2026.

About the AAPPN Awards

Each year, we express our appreciation for the positive contributions our members make in the lives of their colleagues, patients, and families, as well as in their workplaces and communities.

Do you know an AAPPN member who excels in client care? How about a new practitioner who has a bright future? Do you volunteer with someone whose contribution to the association merits recognition?

By submitting an award nomination, you can create a memory for someone who is greatly deserving!

Writing a compelling award nomination requires specific examples, measurable results, and a clear connection between the nominee’s accomplishments and the award criteria.

To help you get started, please review these tips on writing an award nomination.

All nominations must be submitted by a current AAPPN member. The deadline to submit a nomination is July 17, 2026, at noon Pacific.

Award Categories for 2026

Nursing Excellence 

Honors an AAPPN member who makes a difference to advanced practice psychiatric nursing, the mental health profession, and/or the clients we serve. For example, a nominee could model excellence in client care, innovation in nursing care, education, leadership, health equity, legislative advocacy, advocacy for clients and/or colleagues, public policy, or research.

  • The nominee may be any Clinical, Emeritus, or Out-of-State member. 

Outstanding Volunteer

Honors an AAPPN member who makes a difference to the organization. Examples include helping members, promoting AAPPN and the profession, recruiting new members, working on a committee, or leading special interest groups. 

  • The nominee may be any AAPPN member. 

Outstanding New Practitioner

Honors an AAPPN member whose accomplishments in the profession within five years of graduating from a PMHNP program distinguish them as future leaders in the profession.

  • Recipient may be any member who graduated from a PMHNP program within the last five years.

Outstanding Preceptor

Honors an AAPPN member who is an exemplary and outstanding PMHNP student preceptor. They demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and management skills and stimulate active independent and guided learning with constructive feedback. They are excellent communicators and positive role models with well-developed interpersonal skills.

  • Recipient may be any Clinical, Emeritus, or Out-of-State member.

Gretchen Schodde Lifetime Achievement 

Honors a nominee whose work advances the profession and promotes mental health and well-being to those served. They display qualities such as inspiration, vision, creativity, dedication, leadership, commitment, service, and devotion. 

  • The nominee is not required to be a nurse or AAPPN member. 

Previous award recipients

Read the List of All AAPPN Award Recipients