ARN Member Awards and Scholarships
ARN offers members an opportunity to acknowledge peers and colleagues for their exemplary work and service. Exceptional rehabilitation nurses deserve recognition for their contributions to rehabilitation nursing. Supervisors, colleagues, or family members can submit nominations. Some awards are self-nominating and ARN members can nominate themselves.
A New Way to Celebrate: 2025 Awards and Scholarships Ceremony
This year, ARN is launching our first-ever virtual Awards and Scholarships ceremony. Instead of taking place at the annual conference, the 2025 ARN Awards and Scholarships event will be held virtually, making it possible for your peers, colleagues, friends, and family to join in recognizing the impact of rehab nurses across the country.
More visibility. More voices. More ways to celebrate your contributions.
Mark Your Calendar: September 17, 2025 | Virtual | More details coming soon
Awards and Scholarship Timeline:
|
May 15 |
Call for applications/nominations opens |
|
June 15 |
Application/nomination deadline |
|
July |
Submitters and awardees notified |
|
September 17 |
ARN Awards and Scholarship Awards Ceremony |
Awards and Scholarships Now Open
Scholarships:
- Mary Ann Mikulic Conference Scholarship
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Scholarship
- Graduate School Scholarship
- CRRN® Scholarship
- Mary Ellen Hatch Emerging Leader Membership Scholarship
Awards:
NEW Awards:
- Outstanding Student Award
- Rising Star Award
- Volunteer Impact Award
- Preceptor/Mentor Award
- Innovative Practice Researcher Award
- Excellence in Long-Term Care Rehabilitation Award
- DAISY Award®: Team Award
SCHOLARSHIPS
Mary Ann Mikulic Conference Scholarship
Attend ARN's 2025 Rehab Nursing Conference
The Mary Ann Mikulic Scholarship covers one full hybrid registration fee for a first-time attendee to ARN’s 2025 Rehabilitation Nursing Conference. Attend the conference both in-person in Phoenix, AZ, and virtually to earn continuing education credits and connect with your rehab nursing community.
Value: $799+
Eligibility requirements include:
- Must be a first-time attendee of the Rehabilitation Nursing Conference.
- Must be a rehabilitation nurse or a student with an interest in rehabilitation nursing.
The scholarship covers the registration fee for one nurse. Transportation to and from the conference as well as accommodations while at the meeting must be covered by the scholarship recipient.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Scholarship
Apply to earn financial assistance in rehabilitation nursing from ARN.
The ARN scholarship program provides financial assistance to rehabilitation nurses working toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Award: $1,500
Eligibility:
Rehabilitation nurses who meet these criteria are eligible for the scholarship:
- Must be a registered nurse currently working toward a BSN degree.
- Must be enrolled in a nursing program and demonstrate an interest in rehabilitation nursing.
Application process
To be considered, application materials must be received by June 15, 2025.
Selection
The recipient will be selected by ARN based on the application materials provided. All scholarship applicants will be notified in July. Payment will be made to the scholarship recipient before the end of the year.
You will be required to upload a headshot.
Graduate School Scholarship
Apply to earn financial assistance for your graduate school from ARN
ARN offers financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to nurses working toward a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a doctorate degree in nursing (PhD, DNP, DNS/DNSc).
Eligibility:
- Must be a CRRN.
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must be currently enrolled or accepted into an MSN, DNP, PhD, or DNS/DNSc program.
- Thesis or project must focus on rehabilitation nursing or a related area of advanced practice.
Application process
To be considered, application materials must be received by June 15, 2025.
Selection
The recipient will be selected by ARN based on the application materials provided. All scholarship applicants will be notified in July. Payment will be made to the scholarship recipient before the end of the year.
You will be required to upload a headshot.
CRRN® Certification Exam Scholarship
Apply to earn financial assistance to sit for the CRRN® exam
This scholarship provides assistance for rehabilitation nurses planning to sit for the CRRN® exam in December 2025 or June 2026.
Value: $460
Eligibility:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing
- Must be a nurse working in a rehabilitation specialty and planning to site for the CRRN® exam.
- Application must be submitted prior to the selected testing window.
Application process
To be considered, application materials must be received by June 15, 2025. Winners will be notified in July and expected to attend the live, virtual awards event in September 2025.
Selection
The recipient will be selected by ARN based on the application materials provided.Payment will be made to the scholarship recipient before the end of the year.
Mary Ellen Hatch Emerging Leader Membership Scholarship
Provides one year of complimentary ARN membership to an emerging leader in rehabilitation nursing.
Value: $165
Qualifications:
- Must be a new or emerging leader in rehabilitation nursing.
- Must not have been an ARN member for more than three years before applying.
AWARDS
Direct Patient Care Nurse Award
Recognizes a nurse who has demonstrated exceptional direct patient care and commitment to rehabilitation nursing.
- Must be an active ARN member in good standing.
- Must be actively involved in direct patient care in a rehabilitation setting.
- Demonstrates exceptional patient outcomes, advocacy, and a commitment to rehabilitation nursing.
Leadership Award
Honors a nurse or professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of rehabilitation nursing.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must demonstrate exceptional leadership within the rehabilitation nursing community.
- Can be a nurse, administrator, or other professional in rehabilitation nursing.
Patient Advocacy Award
Recognizes an individual who has advocated for patients, ensuring they receive the best care and services in rehabilitation settings.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must have demonstrated significant advocacy for patients in rehabilitation settings.
- Must be actively involved in protecting patient rights and well-being.
Nurse Educator Award
Acknowledges a nurse educator who has made significant contributions to educating and mentoring the next generation of rehabilitation nurses.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must be an educator providing nursing education to future nurses or professionals interested in rehabilitation nursing.
- Demonstrates excellence in teaching, curriculum development, or student mentorship.
Outstanding Student Award
This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in their nursing program with a strong interest in rehabilitation nursing.
Qualifications:
- Must be currently enrolled in a nursing program.
- Must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and a clear commitment to rehabilitation nursing.
Rising Star Award
This award honors a rehabilitation nurse early in their career who has shown great potential and promise in the field.
Qualifications:
- Must have fewer than 5 years of professional rehabilitation nursing experience.
- Demonstrates a commitment to improving patient care and advancing the practice of rehabilitation nursing.
Volunteer Impact Award
This award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding dedication to volunteerism and made a significant impact in the rehabilitation nursing field through ARN.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must be actively involved in volunteer work with ARN related to rehabilitation nursing or healthcare.
- Demonstrates exceptional commitment to service and community impact.
Preceptor/Mentor Award
Recognizes a preceptor or professional who has demonstrated exceptional teaching, support, and mentorship to nursing students or new rehabilitation nurses, helping to advance the field.
Qualifications:
- Must have served as a preceptor for nursing students or new nurses.
- Must be actively involved in volunteer work with ARN related to rehabilitation nursing or healthcare.
- Demonstrates a commitment to professional development of others in rehabilitation nursing.
Or: - Must have shown a sustained commitment to mentoring others in the field.
- Has contributed meaningfully to the growth of colleagues through guidance and support.
Innovative Practice Researcher Award
This award honors an individual who has contributed significantly through research or evidence-based practice aimed at advancing rehabilitation nursing.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must have led research or implemented evidence-based practice to advance the field.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to improving patient care through innovation.
Excellence in Long-Term Care Rehabilitation Award
This award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of care in long-term or skilled nursing facility rehabilitation settings.
Qualifications:
- Must be an ARN member in good standing.
- Must work in a long-term care or skilled nursing facility.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate rehabilitation care.
DAISY Award®: Team Award
The DAISY Award®: Team Award is awarded in collaboration with the DAISY Foundation. The DAISY Team Award is designed to honor collaboration by two or more people, led by a nurse, who identify and meet patient and/or patient family needs by going above and beyond the traditional role of Nursing. It recognizes that while an idea to achieve better patient and family outcomes may start with one individual, it often takes an entire team to implement successfully.
Qualifications:
- Each team must consist of two or more individuals and include at least one current ARN member. A maximum of 20 individuals may be recognized per application.
- The team must be led by a rehabilitation nurse or a group of rehabilitation nurses.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to improving patient care through teamwork and collaboration.
- Team members must exemplify collaboration, interdisciplinary partnership, and shared leadership that positively impact rehabilitation patients, their families, healthcare colleagues, and the broader community.
