The Ethics of Caring Leadership Award has been bestowed since 2017 as a way of recognizing leaders whose practice has been exemplary and paved the way for nurses to deepen their knowledge of ethics, to be prepared to engage in ethical dialogue, to provide mentorship and role modeling, and to inspire the next generation of nurse and ethics leaders. An ethic of care is foundational in a nurses practice and this award acknowledges the privilege and obligation of caring as well as integrating care through an ethical lens, whether with patients, their families, colleagues, and communities.

This award not only confers a tribute to the individual, but it also commits to documenting a history of nursing ethics. As the award is presented, the recipient is interviewed and nurses gain intimate insights into the passion, the journey, the missteps, and the expertise gained as these leaders found their way through the challenging ethical questions encountered and their powerful responses.