The Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing Award

The Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing Award is a prestigious award given to a registered nurse at UAMS, recognizing the distinguished lifetime career of a nurse devoted to the compassionate care of others. The recipient serves as a beacon of inspiration to nurses at all stages of their career in various and important roles of nursing. The recipient shows consistent and exceptional contributions throughout a career that has enhanced patient care and touched many lives. Selection for this honor also recognizes an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to the nursing profession and UAMS, as well as exemplary professional practice and nursing leadership.

The recipient of the Mary Helen Forrest Legacy Nursing Award should reflect by specific example, qualities that have impacted the nursing profession to achieve a positive outcome:

Distinguished career as a nurse in clinical practice, administration, education, and/or research that promotes a positive image of professional nursing
Demonstrates and actively engages in the professional development of self and others in the nursing profession, as evidenced by the achievement of advanced degrees, certification(s), and leadership positions in addition to the mentorship of others for similar achievements
Pioneered in and/or provided leadership of new programs, models, specialties, practices, or research related to nursing
Serves as a role model and advocate for nursing practice and the advancement of nursing as a professional
Advocates for the improvement of patient care and serves as an exemplar for enhancing the patient experience
Recognized by the broader nursing community as a transformational nursing leader, e.g., recognized in the media; recipient of community, state-wide, or national award(s)
Must be a registered nurse who has served 20+ years of consecutive service at UAMS and in the profession of nursing

Nomination Process:

Complete online application below in its entirety relating to the nurse you are nominating. Please attach any supportive information in the area provided in the nomination form. NOTE: Nominations will not be accepted after the closing date. The deadline for nominations is April 10, 2026.
The nominator may request, from the nominee, supportive information to submit along with the nomination. Please attach supportive information in the space provided on the nomination form. Alternatively, supporting material may be delivered to Center for Nursing Excellence office, Central Bldg, 8th Floor, Room 8031

Selection Process:

Nominations that meet the criteria will be blinded and reviewed by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will select winners based only on the information provided in the nomination and supportive information.
Nominees who meet the criteria, as well as the selected winner, will be celebrated during annual Hospital Awards of Excellence ceremony.

Nomination Form

Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
I nominate the following individual for the The Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing award:
Nominee First Name * Required
Nominee Last Name * Required
Nominee Job Title * Required
Nominee Unit/Area/Clinic * Required
Nominee Supervisor * Required
NOTE: Nominations are judged, in part, on the quality of the nomination. All nominations, that meet criteria, will be blinded and reviewed by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will select winners based only on the information provided in the nomination and supportive information.
Use the following numbered criteria to complete the nomination. Select one different criteria to complete each example.
1
Distinguished career as a nurse in clinical practice, administration, education, and/or research that promotes a positive image of professional nursing
2
Demonstrates and actively engages in the professional development of self and others in the nursing profession, as evidenced by achievement of advanced degrees, certification(s), and leadership positions in addition to the mentorship of others for similar achievements
3
Pioneered in and/or provided leadership of new programs, new models, specialties, or research related to nursing
4
Serves as a role model and advocate for nursing practice and the advancement of nursing as a professional
5
Advocates for the improvement of patient care and serves as an exemplar for enhancing the patient experience
6
Recognized by the broader nursing community as a transformational nursing leader, e.g., recognized in the media; recipient of community, state wide, or national awards
7
Must be a registered nurse who has served 20+ years of consecutive service at UAMS and in the profession of nursing
Example 1 specifics * Required
Example 2 specifics * Required
Example 3 specifics * Required
Please describe all known positions each role the nominee has held at UAMS in a clinical practice, administration/leadership, education, and/or research. * Required
Attach supportive information here:
Drop files here or

Max. file size: 166 MB.
Person Submitting Nomination * Required
Workday * Required
Unit/Area/Clinic * Required
Job Title * Required
NOTE: The Center for Nursing Excellence will verify nominee’s eligibility with their manager.

Nomination Process:

Selection Process:

Nomination Form

I nominate the following individual for the The Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing award:

Use the following numbered criteria to complete the nomination. Select one different criteria to complete each example.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

NOTE: The Center for Nursing Excellence will verify nominee’s eligibility with their manager.