AONL Fellow Designation FAQ

Common questions and answers on the AONL Fellow designation and application.

What is the AONL Fellow Designation? +

Those designated as Fellows of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership are nurse leaders who have made significant and sustained contributions to AONL and to the specialty of nursing leadership beyond their role expectations and employment settings. Beyond excellence, AONL Fellow Designees demonstrate exemplary leadership practice with impact at the regional, national, and even global arenas. AONL Fellows have achieved success in the field and commit to advance the specialty and shape the future of nursing leadership through expert leadership practice, engaging with nurse leaders in all arenas, mentoring other leaders, and contributing to AONL at the regional and national levels.

How does the AONL Fellow Designation differ from other honorary designations? +

The AONL Fellow designation focuses on the achievement of exemplary nursing leadership with specific attention given to:

Leadership contributions and outcomes recognized at the regional, national, and/or global levels.
Contributions to AONL with outcomes.
Reflection on how AONL has influenced the leader’s professional development.

How does the AONL Fellow Designation differ from the AONL Fellowships? +

The AONL Fellowships are year-long, face-to-face education opportunities to develop skills and expand knowledge as part of the participants’ leadership evolution. The Fellow Designation is a title recognizing exemplary nursing leadership practice and contributions to AONL. It reflects achievement at the highest level of nursing leadership practice excellence.

How is the work of employment differentiated from work that is “beyond employment”? +

It is recognized that nursing leaders may be exceptional in their jobs within organizations, making a significant and positive impact on those who work for them, on the outcomes of clinical care, and on the achievement of organizational goals. Nurse leaders wishing to achieve AONL Fellow Designation are highly effective within employment, but beyond their jobs also make contributions at the professional level that may include but are not limited to:

Conduct and dissemination of research.
Professional publications.
Professional presentations that disseminate innovative work that can be replicated.
Demonstration that their innovations have been implemented and adopted by other employers/settings.
Attainment of professional leadership roles within professional associations.
Function as a trustee on a governance board.
Advancement of public policy beyond advocacy.
Local or national media presence within the domain of health and wellness.
Formally acknowledgement for advancement of professional practice in the regional, national, and/or global arena.

Do I need to be certified by AONL to apply for the Fellow Designation? +

All members in good standing who meet core criteria are eligible to apply for Fellow Designation. Certification by AONL is not a requirement though paired with outcomes AONL certifications could be used to demonstrate AONL’s impact on your leadership evolution.

How does my involvement with my state AONL affiliate support my application and designation as an AONL Fellow? +

The CV and narrative should reflect a leadership evolution that describes how the applicant’s involvement in and contributions at the affiliate level have contributed to the national mission and vision of AONL. The review process will assess the extent to which the affiliate contributions are connected to the mission and goals of AONL.

Who is on the review team? +

Applications will be peer-reviewed by individuals currently serving on the AONL Fellow Designation Selection Committee. The AONL Board, staff and others will have no influence over the selection of Fellow Designees chosen by the review committee.

Will the reviewers know the names of the applicants? +

The applications are not redacted so the reviewers will know the names of the applicants. Very strict guidelines have been created for the reviewers. The guidelines will be discussed with the review team and each reviewer must commit to following them.

If the reviewer assigned to an application has knowledge about the applicant’s leadership performance that would in any way influence that reviewer’s decision, that reviewer must recuse him/herself from that application. Only information provided in the application will be considered in the review process.

All information about every applicant to the AONL Fellow Designation Program is to be held in total confidentiality. No discussion or communication of the information outside the review process is permitted.

Who should applicants ask to write letters of support? +

Authors of support letters must have direct, sufficient knowledge of the applicant that will allow them to expand on the contributions and outcomes to both exemplary leadership practice beyond the applicant’s role scope and employment site as well as to AONL. At least one author should include the applicant’s contributions to and engagement in AONL in his/her letter.

Current AONL board members and FAONL selection committee members are not eligible to write letters of support.

The applicant is responsible for verifying that at least one support letter author holds current AONL membership and receiving the author’s membership number. Review the membership directory to find current AONL members.

What additional information may be used in reviewing the application? +

There is to be no additional research by reviewers or AONL staff into any candidate’s application information, including internet searches or other sources of information. Applicants may not submit additional material such as copies of articles or presentations in support of their application.