'Nursing is something that I love. It doesn’t feel like a job,' says Gwent's Nurse of the Year

Claire Harris picked up the top award at the Royal College of Nursing Wales Awards, after having already been given the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award - and five others were also won by staff from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

The awards seek to celebrate excellence across a range of nursing practice in Wales.

Innovative and pioneering work in delivering the health board's stroke design programme earned Claire Harris her award.

"I’m really overwhelmed. To win the Chief Nursing Officer’s Award and the Wales Nurse of the Year award doesn’t seem quite real," she said.

"Nursing is something that I do every day and something that I love. It doesn’t feel like a job.

"I wouldn’t be where I am without the help and support of all the nurses that I’ve worked with. It really is a team effort.”

The stroke design programme aimed to create a single site stroke service and has seen the introduction of six hyper acute stroke beds at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

An increase in discharge rates from the acute stroke unit and a reduction in the average length of stay for patients has been the result, with patients beginning their journey toward recovery more quickly.

"To aid this Claire has also created strong links with ward sisters in the community setting, allowing a swift and seamless flow to community hospitals, clearly further enhancing patient experiences," stated the awards programme citation.

"Claire strives for excellence in her work and has created relationships with other acute stroke units around the UK in order to learn from best practice.

"She has raised staff perception of the importance of communication with patients and relatives, which has been achieved through carer’s clinics and other proactive communication tools. She is an exceptional individual who puts patients and their families at the centre of care."

RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly added: "Claire Harris is a prime example of the right nursing care for the right patients. She is an admirable individual and a worthy winner."

Other winners for Gwent's health board were:

* Asylum seeker nurse Roisin O'Hare - Humanitarian Nursing Award;

* Healthcare support worker Justine Jamieson - Healthcare Support Worker Award;

* Helen Erasmus, lead midwife in public health, and Liz Smith, midwifery borough manager - Children and Midwifery Award;

* Transfusion practitioner Sarah Ann Beuschel - Innovation in Nursing Award;

* Nurse practitioner Kath Goode - Improving Individual and Population Health Award.

In addition, senior nurse Carolyn Middleton and assistant director of nursing Dr Nicola Ryley were runners-up for the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award; divisional nurse Richard Desir was runner-up for the Community Nursing Award; and Alison Kirton, practice educator for scheduled care, was runner-up for the Nurse Education Award.

There was also cause for celebration at the Glan-yr-Afon nursing home in Fleur De Lys.

The home's nurse manager Arleen Testa won the Older people's Commissioner for Wales Award, while healthcare assistant Karen Williams was runner-up for the Healthcare Support Worker Award.