WA nursing excellence

Two Silver Chain nurses recently won individual awards at the 2012 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards gala dinner held at Burswood Entertainment Complex.

Attending the event, Silver Chain Group’s chief executive, Christopher McGowan, congratulated the West Australian aged and community care provider nurses, Liz Howse and Laura Black.

“These awards are testament to the wonderful work all Silver Chain nurses do each and every day in the community, and the positive impact their care and commitment makes on the lives of many Western Australians.”

Ms Howse was announced as the winner in the Primary and Community Care category. This award recognises Ms Howse’s commitment to excellence in care, improving client outcomes, and as a senior leader for Silver Chain in primary health care service delivery.

“Congratulations to Ms Howse, whose determination, commitment and partnership with her many colleagues was rewarded,” Silver Chain’s general manager, Mark Cockayne, said.

“Her journey to nurse practitioner was highlighted on the night, and is critical as a component of Silver Chain’s objectives to become a leader in healthcare delivery and client outcomes across Australia.”

Ms Black, nurse practitioner of country services was awarded as winner of the Emerging Leader category. She is the first primary health nurse practitioner in country WA under the Royalties for Regions funded Southern Inland Health Initiative.

The award recognised Ms Black’s strong clinical leadership and communication, working in collaboration with existing providers to deliver health services to communities in Western Australia’s Eastern Wheatbelt.

Silver Chain’s general manager of country services, Carole Bain, said: “It is not easy in any profession to be a pioneer in your field and certainly Ms Black is this. She is leading the way with the role of the nurse practitioner in the Wheatbelt, focused on improving consumer care, which is paving the way for integrated  Primary Health service in rural Western Australia.”

Ms Black was pleased to be one of six country nurses across 16 category winners, including Nurse of the Year, which she said exemplified and recognised the dedication of WA’s many nurses working in rural and remote communities.

For more information on the WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards, visit www.nursing.health.wa.gov.au/home/award.cfm