Multiple wins for SESLHD nurses at Excellence in Nursing & Midwifery Awards

Two SESLHD staff were named winners at the 2020 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards during a live broadcast on Thursday, 26 November. The accolades were awarded to:

• New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Corey Sclater, Registered Nurse, Prince of Wales Hospital
• The consumer-voted Healing Heart Award for Exceptional Care (Nursing/Midwifery): Mike Smith, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Population and Community Health, SESLHD

Also nominated from SESLHD in the highly competitive Nurse of the Year Award category was Nikita Donnelly, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical and Emergency Response Team, Prince of Wales Hospital.
 
This year was the eighth edition of the Awards and, for the first time, the ceremony was presented in a virtual format, enabling people all across the state to be a part of the celebrations.
 
The Awards were presented by The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health and Medical Research, Elizabeth Koff, Secretary NSW Health and Jacqui Cross, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. 
 
Kim Olesen, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, SESLHD, said the three staff from the District nominated should be proud to be acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to patient care.
 
“I would like to again congratulate Corey, Mike and Nikita on their nomination for this year’s awards. Our patients and staff are lucky you have chosen to work in our District. 2020 is also a significant year to be recognised for contributing to healthcare, as we have worked as part of the COVID-19 response, while also celebrating the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife,” Ms Olesen said.
 
Karen Tuqiri, Director of Nursing, Prince of Wales Hospital, said a small number of staff gathered to watch the live awards broadcast, including Corey and Nikita.
 
“We are dedicated to supporting the development of new graduate nurses – and to have Corey recognised as the New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year is a testament not only to his incredible work, but to those who’ve supported his introduction to nursing,” Ms Tuqiri said.
 
“Prince of Wales Hospital is extremely proud that two of our staff were state-wide finalists. Nikita was deserving to be nominated for Nurse of the Year, particularly after being elected as the Nightingale Nurse of the Year for 2020, where she received multiple endorsements from her peers for her passionate activism for patient safety.”
 
Dr Marianne Gale, Director, Population and Community Health, SESLHD, said this year was the first time the Awards included a category where patients, clients, their families or carers were eligible to place nominations.
 
“Patients and clients are at the heart of what we do, so it brings me great happiness that Mike received the Healing Heart Award for his contribution to the HIV Outreach Team, where he works with mental health and drug and alcohol clients,” Dr Gale said.
 
“Mike was nominated by a client who said he had changed their life after leaving the prison system for the first time in 30 years. The client said Mike helped them to get HIV care as well as to manage appointments and to better understand other health problems.”
 
For more information about the Awards, please visit the NSW Health website. To watch the awards ceremony, please click here.