UCHealth’s professional practice and recognition program, UEXCEL, underwent a major modernization in summer 2025 to simplify the experience and better support nurses’ career aspirations.
UEXCEL NextGen expanded the program’s options to two tiers, offering more flexibility while continuing to focus on nursing excellence in clinical practice, education, evidence-based practice and leadership. Since it launched, more than 500 nurses’ applications have been approved across both tiers, which offer varying intensity of requirements.
Monetary awards are available for successful completion of activities, and eligible nurses have the option each year to select a tier and participate in a triannual cohort. Through UEXCEL NextGen, UCHealth nurses are contributing to innovations, building leadership skills and advancing their clinical expertise as they improve lives.
Participants complete activities across several categories:
- Professional involvement
- Professional development
- Culture and employee well-being
- Project participation and dissemination
- Quality and safety
Examples can include completing a practice-improvement project, publishing an article, chairing a council or committee, obtaining a specialty certification, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and much more. UCHealth nurses can learn more on The Source.
The visual companion to our 2026 Nursing Year in Review showcases the print edition’s visual storytelling with connections to all of the articles.