Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) developed the TrueNorth Award in 2013 to recognize facilities that use certification as a “true north” to guide their perioperative nurses to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for excellence and patient safety. We are excited to announce that the TrueNorth Award program is undergoing an exciting transformation in 2025, with plans to relaunch at the start of June!

What’s Changing About TrueNorth? 

To better align with the CNOR Strong Award and provide facilities with ample time to complete their applications, the award timeline has been adjusted. The application cycle will now run annually from June 1 to August 31, with winners being announced at the close of each calendar year.

The TrueNorth Award will also be positioned as a next-tier recognition for those who have earned the CNOR Strong Award, though applicants are not required to have received the CNOR Strong Award to apply. With the program, we aim to recognize nurses who prioritize certification and the facilities that support them demonstrate a shared commitment to elevate patient outcomes through expertise and the continuous pursuit of knowledge.

Additionally, the application process itself will shift to having fewer essay questions and a more streamlined checkbox and multiple-choice style format. Our goal with these updates is to maintain the integrity of this high award of merit while making the application more palatable and accessible.

We Hope to See You Apply!

Applications open on June 1st, 2025, and are accessible on our TrueNorth webpage. If you have any questions, reference our TrueNorth Webinar, and please do not hesitate to reach out to our TrueNorth program coordinator, Morgan Halvorson, at mhalvorson@cc-institute.org.

Thank You For Your Supp