The Royal College of Nursing Wales is pleased to announce the official launch of the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2019 at The Beacon, Dafen, Llanelli.
The winners of these prestigious awards will be announced and celebrated at a glittering, celebratory dinner on Wednesday, 13 November at City Hall, Cardiff.
Over the last eight years, these accolades have played an important part in recognising and celebrating nurses demonstrating passion and excellence in their everyday roles throughout Wales. They provide a platform for nurses and healthcare support workers, to highlight their often ground-breaking work and contribute to acknowledging them for their dedication to providing the highest standards of care possible for their patients/clients.
Nurses and Health Care Assistants must illustrate a devotion to quality care through innovative leadership, motivation and enthusiasm. They can be nominated by managers, colleagues, peers, patients and the general public and each winner is chosen by panels of judges, consisting of distinguished nursing leaders and experts in their fields of practice and expertise.
Last year’s Royal College of Nursing in Wales Nurse of the Year was Eve Lightfoot. Whilst working as a Community Infection Prevention Nurse, Eve was concerned that no teaching about sepsis or the early recognition of the deteriorating patient was available in the community. As a result of her research, Eve implemented an Assessment and Early Warning Score into all community nursing documentation and ensured there was a standardisation of equipment and increase in community education around sepsis. Her commitment to improving standards and influencing significant change through inspirational leadership made her a perfect candidate to receive this prestigious award.
Eve Lightfoot said: “Winning the RCN in Wales Nurse of the year award 2018 and the RCN Community Nurse of the year award has been very exciting and a great honour. It has given me a platform from which to work with others to promote the role of Community Nurses in the quest to improve patient care. It has brought new opportunities and experiences which will broaden my knowledge and increase my confidence, helping to open up new possibilities for my future career. I am very privileged to have been given this opportunity.”
Gaynor Jones MBE, Chair of the RCN Welsh Board, who launched the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2019 said: “As a practicing nurse, I am so proud to be a part of these awards. Welsh nurses are hard-working, dedicated and innovative. It makes me proud to know that our profession is acknowledged and that the nurses who go that ‘extra mile’ are celebrated."
Helen Whyley, Director of RCN Wales, said: “it is an honour to be here today, at The Beacon Centre to launch this fantastic event. Over the last eight years, we have been able to showcase the great work being carried out all over Wales and celebrate nursing in all its forms. The hundreds of nominations we have received previously, highlight the passion and dedication that provides the Welsh population with high quality, innovative care.”
