RCN in Wales begins hunt for 2018’s Nurse of the Year
THE Royal College of Nursing in Wales is delighted to announce the official launch of the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards for 2018 at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, in the Cwm Taf University Health Board area.
At the launch, it was confirmed that a celebratory gala dinner, at which the winners of this year’s awards will be announced and prizes awarded, will be held on Wednesday, November 14, at City Hall, Cardiff.
The Royal College of Nursing in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards are a fantastic opportunity to offer recognition for nurses who demonstrate excellence in practice. We created the awards seven years ago to highlight the achievements of the nursing family in Wales.
Nurses can be nominated for the awards by peers, teams, managers, patients and the general public. The nominated nurses and healthcare support workers must demonstrate a passion for their profession and exemplify distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation. The winners are selected by panels of judges – for a total of 19 awards (including Wales Nurse of the Year) – made up of distinguished nursing leaders and experts in their fields of practice and research.
This year, we are also introducing a new category called the Safeguarding Award which is sponsored by the National Independent Safeguarding Board.
Of the launch, Tina Donnelly, director of RCN Wales, said: “I am delighted to be here at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon to launch the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2018.
“These prestigious awards recognise the very best in nursing, delivery for our patients and their families and nursing achievement – none more so than last year’s winner, respiratory nurse facilitator Louise Walby, who is employed by this very health board.
“This is the seventh year that the awards have allowed us to celebrate the brightest stars of the nursing family in Wales. Each year we are delighted to see the very high standard of entrants accurately reflecting the high standards of healthcare delivery occurring in Wales each and every day.
“We have received hundreds of nominations over the years – highlighting the work of healthcare professionals in a variety of disciplines and numerous areas of expertise. We are all so very fortunate to have such excellent individuals working to look after our health and wellbeing. Our award-winners and runners-up exemplify the nursing profession’s highest values – dedication to patient care, leadership, altruism and compassion and commitment to service.”
Gaynor Jones, chair of the RCN Welsh Board and RCN Council member for Wales, said of the awards: “I am a practising nurse, working at the coalface of NHS care, and so I know the value of nursing in healthcare provision. This event is a tribute not only to those who receive awards on the night but to the excellence of the many thousands of practising nurses throughout Wales.
“All of our shortlisted candidates, whether they work in the NHS or the independent sector, have an unwavering dedication to their patients and to nursing as a whole in common.
“And most surprising of all is that they do this day in, day out, never really appreciating what a wonderful job it is they do, so I am delighted that the RCN in Wales is able to mark some of their achievements in this way.”
Last year’s Royal College of Nursing Nurse of the Year was Louise Walby, who works as a respiratory nurse facilitator with Cwm Taf University Health Board.
Her dedication to improving the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with chronic lung disease, in one of the worst-hit areas, and Louise’s passion for staff development, led to her achieving this prestigious award.
She said: “I am extremely proud that I am RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year. Like all nurses, I could not achieve so much without the support of my team and the encouragement of managers who over the years have set me an example of what good leadership can accomplish. There are numerous nurses across the country who, similar to my team, continue to undertake important and innovative work for patients.
“Being Nurse of the Year has provided me with opportunities and experiences I have not had previously. These vary from working with key influential people in healthcare, promoting staff and leadership development, through to attending a special gala where the Prince of Wales paid tribute to all nurses.
“It is a privilege to be able to represent the face of modern nursing and to showcase the remarkable work that healthcare professionals are doing to ensure that patients get the very best care possible.
“The accolade of Nurse of the Year is a wonderful opportunity. I wish every success to this year’s winner.”
Jason Mohammad, BBC presenter and journalist, and Andrea Byrne, ITV Wales presenter and journalist, will co-host this year’s ceremony.
In addition to the prestige associated with winning an award, category winners will receive a monetary prize plus a trophy. The overall winner will receive the accolade of being recognised as Wales Nurse of the Year 2018 and will receive a superb prize in recognition of this.
■ Nomination forms are available via the RCN Wales website www.rcn. org.uk/wales/get-involved/awards or by emailing nurseoftheyearawards@rcn.org.uk
■ The closing date for entries is June 24, 2018.