Cardinal Health  Chasing Excellence  Award

The Cardinal Health "Chasing Excellence" Award is presented annually to a CACCN member who consistently demonstrates excellence in critical care nursing practice. 

The Cardinal Health Chasing Excellence Award is $1000 to be used by the recipient for continued professional or leadership development in critical care nursing.

Awards Funds Available:         $ 1,000

Deadline for Submission:         June 1

Send applications to CACCN National Office at caccn@caccn.ca
or fax to 519-649-1458 or mail to CACCN, P. O. Box # 25322, London, ON, N6C 6B1

Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before June 1

Download Award Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The Cardinal Health Chasing Excellence Award is given to a critical care nurse who:

  • In critical care, has a primary role in direct patient care
  • Has been a CACCN member in good standing for 3 or more years 
  • Holds a certificate from CNA in critical care CNCC (C) or CNCCP (C) (preferred)
  • Note: Current members of national Board of Directors are not eligible
  • The Cardinal Health Chasing Excellence Award recipient consistently practices at an expert level as described by Benner (1984). 


Expert practice is exemplified by most or all of the following criteria:

  • Participates in quality improvement and risk management to ensure a safe patient care environment
  • Acts as a change agent to improve the quality of patient care when required
  • Provides high quality patient care based on experience and evidence
  • Effective clinical decision making supported by thorough assessments
  • Has developed a clinical knowledge base and readily integrates change and new learning to practice
  • Is able to anticipate risks and changes in patient condition and intervene in a timely manner
  • Sequences and manages rapid multiple therapies in response to a crisis (Benner, Hooper-Kyriakidis and Stannard, 1999)
  • Integrates and coordinates daily patient care with other team members
  • Advocates, and develops a plan of care that consistently considers the patient and family and ensures they receive the best care possible
  • Provides education, support and comfort to patients and their families to help them cope with the trajectory of illness and injury, to recovery, palliation or death
  • Role models collaborative team skills within the inter-professional health care team
  • Assumes a leadership role as dictated by the dynamically changing needs of the unit
    Is a role model to new staff and students
  • Shares clinical wisdom as a preceptor to new staff and students
  • Regularly participates in continuing education and professional development

Nominations 

  • Two letters describing the nominee’s clinical excellence and expertise are required, one of which must be from a CACCN member.
  • The nomination letters need to include three concrete clinical examples outlining how the nominee meets the above criteria and demonstrates clinical excellence in practice.
  • A supporting letter from a supervisor such as a unit manager or team leader is also required.

Selection

  • Each nomination will be reviewed by the awards committee in conjunction with the CACCN director of awards and sponsors. 
  • The successful recipient will be notified by mail, recognized at the annual awards ceremony at the Dynamics conference and her/his name will be published in Dynamics, the Journal of the CACCN. 
  • The awards committee reserves the right to withhold the award if no candidate meets the criteria.

 

Reference

Benner, P. (1984).  From Novice to Expert. Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice.  Addison-Wesley: Menlo Park.
Benner, P., Hooper-Kyriakidis, P. & Stannard, D. (1999). Clinical Wisdom and Interventions in Critical Care A Thinking-in-action Approach. Saunders: Philadelphia.