A LOCAL nurse has been nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in the nursing profession.

Dana Henderson, from Killyclogher, has been named as a finalist in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards 2007.

She will join other finalists, as well as health care professionals from all over the province, at the gala event which is set to take place at the Culloden Hotel, Holywood, on 7 June.

Dana, who is Palliative Care Nurse Specialist at the Western Health and Social Care Trust, has been nominated for her role in enhancing the provision of palliative care services for children, primarily in the west of the province but also on a regional basis. She has introduced a number of changes in nursing practice that have significantly improved standards of care for children and their families.

RCN Northern Ireland Director, Mary Hinds, said, "The RCN would like to congratulate Dana on her success in reaching the finals.

"This is the eleventh year of the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards. We have an excellent nursing workforce in Northern Ireland and the awards provide the perfect opportunity to highlight the contribution that nurses make to improving health and patient care.

"Nurses often work in a challenging environment, yet are playing a leading role in modernising health services.

"Nurse-led services and research are becoming increasingly common and these awards play an important role in recognising and rewarding this good practice.

"There are five categories that nurses can be nominated for – the Patient's Choice Award, Student Award, Team Manager Award, Nursing Research Award and the main Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award.

"In partnership with the Department of Health, we have introduced a new category this year in the form of the Chief Nursing Officer's Award which will be awarded for patient safety. There will also be an award to celebrate outstanding achievement in nursing which will go to someone who has made a huge contribution to the nursing profession in Northern Ireland."

The awards are open to all registered nurses and midwives working in all health care sectors in Northern Ireland. Candidates have to meet strict criteria and go through a rigorous selection process.

They are required to demonstrate that they have succeeded in raising the standards of care provided to patients or clients.