Public urged to nominate nurses for annual gong

(CNS): The annual nomination process for the Eloise Reid Award for Excellence in Nursing, sponsored this year by Tenet Health has now opened and people who know a nurse who should be appreciated are asked to nominate them for the gongs. The names of those nurses who the public believe should be recognised for their exceptional contribution and service to the Cayman should be submitted by 5 May. The Eloise Reid Award for Excellence in Nursing was launched six years ago and is awarded each year during Nurses Week. 

Candidates for the nursing award can be nominated by their peers, patients, or other colleagues who feel a nurse deserves an award for remarkable service.  Nominees must have demonstrated excellence in the application of the standards for nursing practice and code of ethics, and have made exceptional contributions to the nursing profession in clinical practice. 

“There are many dedicated, outstanding nurses living and working in the Cayman Islands.  This award is a great way to bring us all together to celebrate the hard work that nurses do, and recognise the vital support that they offer to the healthcare profession,”  said Eloise Reid, former Health Services Authority CEO and Chief Nursing Officer for whom the award is named.  “I encourage everyone to take the time to think of a nurse who has gone above and beyond in her duties, and make the effort to submit his/her name so that we can in turn show our appreciation as colleagues.”

Nominees will be assessed on a number of criteria including  the possession of high ethical standards; serving as a resource for colleagues and taking the initiative to mentor others; their impact on the quality patient care system; exhibiting the characteristics of a positive role model with strong leadership and interpersonal skills; an expert level of competency in the delivery of holistic care; the ability and desire to acquire new learning and incorporate it in the practice environment; their promotion of a high quality nursing practice environment; their advocacy for quality health care; and their demonstrated commitment to the promotion of the nursing profession.

The winner will be chosen by a selection committee, which is appointed by the Chief Nursing Officer, Hazel Brown.  The winner will be announced and the award presented by Tenet Health at the conference’s welcome cocktail reception on Monday, 12 May at the Marriott Beach Resort. 

Joanna Rose-Wright was the 2013 recipient of the Eloise Reid Award and she said  it is important to show appreciation for the efforts of nurses.

“It is an honour to receive such a prestigious award. I am very passionate about my profession; I have been practicing to be a Nurse from I was a child. She encouraged all nurses to maintain professionalism and always strive for excellence”.

Nomination forms are available at the Health Services Authority or can be downloaded from the Cayman Islands Nurses Association’s website (www.cina.ky).  For more information, call 244-2610 or 244-2617.  

urses Week 2014 will be held from Saturday, 10  May to Friday, 16 May and includes the three-day nursing conference which runs from Wednesday, at the Marriott Beach Resort. Aa 5K fun run/walk that starts at 6.30am at Camana Bay on Saturday, 10 May.