DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102329

 

The American Academy of Nursing’s (Academy) heart does not beat without the contributions of our Fellows. Unique in nursing, the Academy’s Fellowship is not an open membership. It includes nurse leaders who are sponsored by two of their colleagues or mentors and whose application is reviewed through a rigorous selection process. Obtaining the FAAN credential (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) has been described as the pinnacle in a nurse’s career. It denotes that a committee of peers has reviewed the individual nurse’s impact on the public’s health and wellness and deemed their achievements truly remarkable. Moreover, the Academy accepts Fellows into the organization from any practice area, leadership background, population served, and community reached. From nurses with their BSN to nurses with their doctoral degree, the Academy’s Fellowship is comprised of leaders who identify problems, institute improvements, and mobilize others to create system level changes.