RCN in Wales launches Nurse of the Year Awards
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 2017.
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 15, at the prestigious venue of 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.
The awards were created six 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 must demonstrate a passion for the nursing profession and exemplify distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation. The winners are selected for a total of 18 awards (including Wales Nurse of the Year) by panels of judges made up of distinguished nursing leaders and experts in their fields of practice and research.
This year two new awards are being introduced. The Primary Care Nursing Award aims to recognise the achievements of registered nurses who have made an outstanding contribution to the care of people from a primary care perspective.
The Suzanne Goodall Paediatric Nursing Award celebrates the achievements of registered nurses who have made an outstanding contribution to the care of people from a primary care perspective.
Tina Donnelly, director of RCN Wales, said: “I am thrilled to be launching the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2017 at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – the workplace of last year’s Wales Nurse of the Year Sian Thomas.
“These prestigious awards are now in their sixth year and as such have become a highlight in the nursing calendar, celebrating the brightest stars of the nursing family in Wales.
“Each year we are pleased to see the standard of entrants reflecting the high standards of healthcare delivery occurring in Wales each and every day. From the hundreds of nominations we’ve received over the past five years – highlighting the work of healthcare workers in a variety of disciplines and numerous areas of expertise – it is safe to say we are 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 commitment to service.”
Gaynor Jones, chair of the RCN Welsh Board and RCN Council Member for Wales, said: “As a practicing nurse, I know the value of nursing in healthcare provision. I am always taken aback by the humility of hardworking nurses. Nurses will say, ‘I’m not special. I was only doing my job.’ This event is a tribute not only to those who receive awards on the night but to the excellence of the many thousands of practicing nurses throughout Wales. All of our shortlisted candidates have one thing in common – an unwavering dedication to their patients and to nursing as a whole.”
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 2017 and will receive a superb prize in recognition of this.