For Lismore Base Hospital nurse Anna Law, it’s not about winning, but about being recognised.

Anna was chosen as a finalist for the Nurse of the Year award in the recent NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

Even she didn’t win her award, Anna was proud to be nominated as one of five finalists out of more than 53,000 nurses and midwives working across NSW.

Advocate for those dying, caring or grieving

Anna works as a Clinical Risk Resource Nurse in End of Life Care and said the nomination “came as a surprise”.

The Nursing and Midwifery Awards recognise the achievements, commitment and skills of people who make up more than half of the State public health workforce.

Lismore Base Hospital Director of Nursing, Narelle Gleeson said Anna’s nomination was for an award that acknowledges nurses and midwives who showed outstanding clinical practice, leadership, and dedication to their profession and the people they care for. 

Narelle Gleeson and Anna Law.

Nomination

Anna’s nomination paints a picture of the work she does:

“Anna demonstrates a palpable commitment and passion to the skillful and compassionate care of patients; deeply held value of her profession and; respect for whole of life care as a community service.

“Anna works and breathes the CORE principles of NSW Health. Within multidisciplinary and across interdisciplinary teams Anna role models the actions of collaboration, openness, respect and empowerment to her patients and their families.

“She does this, while supporting and mentoring all staff around her, to do the same.

“Anna has extensive experience as an intensive care and critical risk resource nurse. Over the past three years she has empowered patients to transition their end of life journey into an informed and compassionate death.

“Using her skills to build partnerships and dialogue, Anna has engaged clinicians and the Northern Rivers community through collaboration and communication in facilitating dignified and respectful end of life care.

“Anna led the way in implementing the Compassionate Communities Northern NSW, a community action group passionate about empowering people around death, dying, grief and loss.

“She has worked incredibly hard to ensure that Northern Rivers Community provides individual care and support, connects people to services, raises awareness of end of life issues, develops the capacity of the community to meet their own needs, is innovative and advocates for those who are dying, caring or grieving.

“It makes me very proud to work here.”

International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife

NSW Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross said judging the finalists and winners of the Awards was a challenging task, particularly in 2020 - the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

“It has been a year like no other where the contribution of nurses and midwives has been highlighted during our response to COVID-19, “ she said. “If there was ever a time to pause and celebrate the nurses and midwives of NSW, it is now.”