IACRN honors leaders in clinical research nursing who exemplify the mission of IACRN with the Distinguished Clinical Research Nurse Award (DCRNA). Selection of a recipient is through a peer driven nomination process which addresses the significance of the nominee’s contributions to clinical research nursing through research, education, collaboration, and dissemination of best practices. 

Purpose: IACRN is a professional nursing organization. Its purpose is to define, validate, and advance clinical research nursing as a specialty practice and to support the professional development of registered nurses who directly or indirectly impact the care of clinical research participants across all clinical specialties.

Award: The award recipient will be recognized at the annual IACRN conference and in IACRN publications. The award recipient will also receive complimentary 2022 conference registration, a one-year IACRN membership, and a commemorative plaque. The award recipient will be invited to give the Distinguished Clinical Research Nurse lecture at the IACRN 14th annual conference in Atlanta, GA, October 17 - 19, 2022.

Criteria: Nominees must be eligible for membership of IACRN as defined in the association bylaws. Nominees will be selected based on their contribution to the practice of clinical research nursing in the following areas:

1. Contributions to research supporting the practice and our recognition of the specialty practice.
2. Contributions to education of CRNs.
3. Contributions to developing collaborations that foster the practice of CRNs.
4. Contributions to dissemination of best practices in clinical research.

Nomination Process: Members of IACRN may nominate an individual by completing the nomination application that outlines the  leadership qualities which make the nominee worthy of selection. Nominations will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for review, scoring, and selection of the recipient. If nominations are not received, the Board of Directors will select a recipient.

Application Components: 

• The nominator must address how the nominee meets the criteria state above in 500 words or less (essay). The essay must include a clear description of how the nominee has contributed to all or some of the following areas:
• Contributions to research supporting the practice and recognition of the specialty practice.
• Contributions to education of CRNs.
• Contributions to developing collaborations that foster the practice of CRNs.
• Contributions to dissemination of best practices in clinical research.
• A letter of support from a professional colleague other than the nominator must be submitted with the application. The letter should include:
• Description of how this person knows nominee and for how long.
• Description of their impression of nominee and their interest in Clinical Research Nursing.
• Description of nominee's involvement in and commitment to Clinical Research Nursing.
• Description of any other personal characteristic that makes the nominee unique when compared to other candidates.
• Nominee's CV

Nominations for 2022 are closed.

DCRNA Recipient History:

2010: Clare Hastings, PhD, RN, FAAN
2011: Jennifer Allison, RN, AAS, RSCN, MICR
2012: Margaret McCabe, PhD, RN, PNP-BC
2014: Mary Larkin, RN, MS, CDE
2016: Shaunagh Browning, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
2018: Susan Hamer, PhD, Ded, BA, MA, RGN, FETC(Dist), NDNCert