Aster Opens Applications for Global Nursing Award
The sixth Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award offers a $250,000 prize to registered nurses worldwide, with applications closing December 31, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Aster DM Healthcare has opened applications for the sixth Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, which carries a $250,000 prize equivalent to Dh918,125. The award is open to registered nurses worldwide and accepts submissions in multiple languages.
Why it matters
The award recognises nurses for the ideas they advance, the systems they strengthen and the communities they transform. It provides a global platform for nursing achievement at a time when the profession is central to healthcare systems across many countries.
The 2026 edition drew more than 134,000 registrations from 214 countries and economies, a scale the organiser reports across its award history. The number of applications for the 2027 edition has not been disclosed.
The players
Aster DM Healthcare
A healthcare group that established and runs the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award as part of its commitment to nursing recognition.
Dr Azad Moopen
Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, who established the award in 2021.
Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
A global professional services firm that manages the award's selection process.
The details
Registered nurses submit case studies across five categories through the award's official website, and Ernst & Young LLP manages selection under oversight from an international Grand Jury. Ten finalists will be shortlisted to compete for the top prize.
Timeline
2021: Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award established by Dr Azad Moopen.
2022: Inaugural award won by Kenya's Nurse Anna Qabale Duba in Dubai.
2023: Britain's Nurse Margaret Helen Shepherd wins the award.
December 31, 2026: Applications for the 2027 edition close.
May 2027: Winners to be recognised at a global ceremony coinciding with International Nurses Day.
Market Landscape
The award's inaugural winner came from Kenya and its 2023 winner from Britain, with the third edition won by a nurse from the Philippines and the 2025 winner from Ghana. This spread of winners across regions reflects the award's stated global scope.
Registered nurses anywhere in the world can apply by submitting case studies through the official website before the December 31, 2026 deadline. The award's $250,000 prize is a significant financial recognition for a single nurse.
The takeaway
Registered nurses worldwide have a defined window to apply for a recognition award that values frontline work in systems and communities. Eligible nurses should review the category requirements and submit before the December 31, 2026 deadline.
What happens next
Applications for the 2027 edition close December 31, 2026, and winners will be recognised at a global ceremony planned for May 2027 to coincide with International Nurses Day.
Further reading
Explore more on Nursing Jobs for career opportunities in the profession.
