The Distinguished Nurse Scholar Program is designed to assist outstanding nurse leaders to play a more prominent role in health policy development at the national level. The program seeks individuals who have the capacity and skills to bring issues of special interest in nursing to greater public understanding and policy attention. As part of the program, the scholar is asked to produce a policy-oriented paper based on her/his area of special interest or become actively involved in an Institute of Medicine study related to his/her area of expertise. 

The program, initiated in 1992, is supported by the  American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and the American Nurses Foundation (ANF) and conducted by the Institute of Medicine. Each year one senior nurse scholar is selected from an eligible institution or organization to come to Washington to participate in one-year program of orientation and work at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

Please click here for the Call for Applications.

• 2007 Nurse Scholar - Carolyn Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN
• 2006 Nurse Scholar - Ada Sue Hinshaw, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN
• 2005 Nurse Scholar - Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN
• 2004 Nurse Scholar - Veronica D. Feeg, Ph.D, R.N., FAAN
• 2003 Nurse Scholar - Angela Barron McBride, Ph.D., R.N.
• 2002 Nurse Scholar - Bonnie Mowinski Jennings, DNSc, R.N., FAAN