The Beatrice Renfield Caring for the Caregiver Award, given by the American Journal of Nursing, recognizes a significant contribution to clinical facilities in support of nurses and nursing. The award is given to a philanthropist, either an individual or organization, who has provided financial support for the development of excellence in nursing practice.

Figure. No caption available.

Figure. Ralph Nelles receiving the 2007 award in Billings, Montana, in December. Pictured with him are his daughters, Marilyn Brocopp, center, and LaVonne Fink.

The award is named in honor of Beatrice Renfield, a trustee and patron of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, who established a fund for the support and development of its nursing staff in 1990. She also made significant donations to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Yale School of Nursing for research and special projects devoted to improving nursing care.

Nominations of individuals or organizations for the annual award are accepted from any clinical facility that supports the development of excellence in nursing practice, including hospitals, home care agencies, and long-term care facilities. Nomination submissions must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2008. For nomination guidelines, go online to http://links.lww.com/A372.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The nominee's philanthropic support should embody the idea of "caring for the caregiver" through educating nurses and providing support to nurture and renew their capacity for caregiving.

1. The nominee should have a vision for health care that values nursing and the contribution nurses make by providing leadership, delivering superior care, and conducting clinical research.

2. Priority will be given to nominees who have supported nursing in clinical facilities rather than schools of nursing.

3. The nominee should demonstrate a long-term commitment of support through repeated gifts or an endowment.

4. Posthumous awards will be considered. Award recipients will be announced in the December 2008 issue of AJN. Additional media outreach will accompany the announcement to celebrate the philanthropic support of nurses and nursing.

For additional information, contact: Diana J. Mason, editor-in-chief, American Journal of Nursing, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 333 Seventh Ave., 19th Fl., New York, NY 10001; (646) 674-6604; [email protected].