In 1974, in preparation for the United States Bicentennial, the American Nurses Association (ANA) created a seven-member committee to recognize the dedication and achievements of professional nurses in a Hall of Fame.
Fifteen inaugural women were selected as inductees and the committee recommended that the nomination process and inductions become a permanent vehicle for recognition.
[1] The criteria for induction include that the nominees must be leaders in health, social or political policy which have had a sustaining impact on nursing in the United States.
All candidates, unless they were working prior to 1873, must have completed a formal registered nursing program.
Contributions to the field could have occurred locally or internationally, but must demonstrate their enduring value beyond the honoree's lifetime.