There was much applause at the recent BJN Awards, which took place beneath Shakespeare's Globe in London, as we celebrated excellence in nursing. On Friday 25 March, we honoured members of our profession and the exceptional contributions that they make to nursing practice.
There were over 200 guests attending this prestigious annual event, after 2 years of virtual celebrations. Over the course of the evening, 18 awards were presented to nurses, addressing issues around continence, excelling in intravenous therapy, providing extraordinary nutritional support and enhancing patient care in urology. Awards were also given to those nurses who have contributed in the fields of chronic oedema, gastrointestinal nursing, hepatology, infection prevention and control and mental health. Nurses practising in oncology, renal care, stoma care and wound care were recognised for putting patient care at the heart of their role. BJN award winners are inspirational and encourage other nurses and colleagues as they strive to ensure that the patient is at the centre, taking nursing to a whole new level, practising at the top end of their licence.
The Nurse of the Year Award recognises an individual's accomplishments and innovations and the much-coveted Lifetime Achievement Award singles out those who shape and influence health and care provision locally, nationally and globally. Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award have included a range of inspirational women, for example, Dame Professor Elizabeth Anionwu, Dame Elizabeth Fradd, Professor Jane Cummings, Dame June Clarke, Cecilia Amin and Professor Nola Ishmael.
At this year's BJN Awards, there was a different approach. For the first time in its 24-year history, the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the nurses of our NHS (a collective) as opposed to one individual nurse. The last 2 years have presented all nurses, wherever they are practising, with challenges that they could never have envisaged. Recognition was given to our NHS and the nurses who work in, manage and run the service. The award acknowledges dedicated service, including the courageous efforts of nurses across the country in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. It also recognises the work and contribution that nurses (past and present) have made, are making and will continue to make to the nation's health and wellbeing.
The impact nurses have made in caring for all of us, our friends and our families, their courage, fortitude and determination, has not gone un-noticed by the BJN and the nation. Your dedication and duty has saved so many lives. The Lifetime Achievement Award is a sign of our gratitude to you; we pay tribute to you all for everything that you have done for us, not only in the past 2 years, but since the establishment of our NHS in 1948.
The award was accepted, on behalf of our NHS, by Diane Palmer, BJN Nurse of the Year 2022.
The BJN Awards are the highlight of my year. I am humbled and amazed, year on year, as I learn how our profession goes from strength to strength in the support and care that it offers patients and their families—all of this against a backdrop of continual change and challenge. You are the nurses who do the work every day, every night, to provide people with the care that they need, allowing people to live the best life they can.
Finally, a personal big ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you: our readers, our authors, our reviewers, our Editor, Sophie Gardner, and all the staff here at BJN who work to enhance care provision and provide innovation and creativity for the people nurses have the privilege to care for. If not for you there would be no BJN and no BJN Awards. You have our continuing thanks and sincere appreciation for all that you do.