The RCN in Wales has opened the nomination process for its annual Nurse of the Year Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the Nurse of the Year Awards aims to recognise the vital contribution of nurses across all settings in Wales. There are 15 categories this year including the community nursingaward,innovation in nursing award and the mental health and learning disabilities award.
Nurses can be nominated by peers, teams, managers, patients and the general public. Nominated nurses must have shown excellence in care, leadership, service and innovation. The winners are selected by a committee of nursing leaders.
Tina Donnelly, director of RCN Wales said: 'I am thrilled to be launching the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards for its fourth consecutive year. Each year we are delighted to receive hundreds of applications that have proven what we already know - nurses in Wales are delivering excellent and innovative care on a daily basis. The standard of applicants has been the highest of calibre year-on-year and once again we are ready to welcome nominations from those who wish to celebrate the hard work and commitment of their colleagues, or their carers.'
Gaynor Jones, Chair of the RCN Welsh board and RCN council member for Wales, said of the awards: 'As a practicing nurse working at the frontline of care, I see the pressures and strains facing the nursing workforce on a daily basis. However, these individuals carry on, with one goal in mind – to improve the lives of their patients and provide the highest standards of care. The selfless nature of these individuals is the exact reason why the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards are so important – celebrating the hard work of those who, we hear each year, are simply 'doing their job'.'
Category winners will receive a monetary prize plus a trophy.
The closing date for nominations is 25 June and the awards take place on 19 November in Cardiff City Hall.