RCN Wales Nurse of the Year

The Royal College of Nursing Wales will be celebrating its 12th RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards returning to the Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa by Sunday on Thursday 20 November 2025.

The awards are proud to continue recognising innovation and excellence in practice, acknowledging outstanding efforts, a commitment to diversity and achievements made by the whole of the nursing community that make differences to care across Wales.

Nominations for the 2025 awards are now closed.

Congratulations and good luck to all those that have been nominated for an award this year.

The nominated nurses, midwives, nursing students and health care support workers demonstrate a passion for their profession and exemplify distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation.

The shortlisting process is currently underway, to determine which nominees will be successfully invited to attend a ‘showcase session’ with our judging panels.

The following dates have been agreed for each award category – these sessions will be held in-person at our RCN Wales Headquarters – Ty Maeth in Cardiff. Unfortunately, there are no alternative date options available:

*Lifetime Achievement / Monday 1 September 2025
Registered Nurse – Adult / Monday 1 September 2025
Registered Nurse - Child / Tuesday 2 September 2025
Research, Innovation and Digitalisation in Nursing -/Tuesday 2 September 2025
Chief Nursing Officer for Wales / Thursday 4 September 2025
Nursing Student / Thursday 4 September 2025
Health Care Support Worker / Monday 8 September 2025
Registered Nurse - Mental Health / Monday 8 September 2025
Community and Primary Care / Tuesday 9 September 2025
Nurse Education / Tuesday 9 September 2025
Independent Sector Nursing / Wednesday 10 September 2025
Improving Individual and Population Health / Monday 15 September 2025
Registered Nurse – Learning Disabilities / Tuesday 16 September 2025
Specialist Nursing / Friday 19 September 2025

*Please note that for the Lifetime Achievement Award, shortlisted nominees will not be required to attend the showcase session in person, instead they will be required to submit a CV for consideration by the judging panel.

Should you have any queries about the next step in the judging process, please do not hesitate to contact us via NurseoftheYearAwards@rcn.org.uk or on 02920 680746.

“The RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards are a powerful celebration of the compassion, innovation and professionalism that define nursing in Wales. They shine a spotlight on the individuals who go above and beyond every day-often quietly and without recognition – to improve lives and lead positive change. These awards not only honour their incredible contributions but also inspire and motivate the next generation of the nursing workforce to strive for excellence.”

Jackie Davies, Chair of the Royal College of Nursing Wales Board

Details of the inspiring work the previous winners and runners up were nominated for can be found below

Click here to download and share our 2025 flyer in both Welsh and English language.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Find out how your support can help make our 2025 celebration the best yet!

To our 2025 Sponsors

Thank you to all our confirmed sponsors for supporting the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2025.

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award

Sponsored by Chief Nursing Officer, Welsh Government

This award will celebrate the contribution of an exceptional nursing or midwifery leader in Wales, who by inspiring others and demonstrating exceptional leadership, has made a significant difference to person centred holistic care.

Improving Individual and Population Health Award

Sponsored by Public Health Wales

This award aims to recognise a nurse or midwife who has made an outstanding contribution to improving individual and/or population health, including the introduction of changes that lead to innovative health improvement or health protection interventions or programmes.

Nurse Education Award

Sponsored by University of South Wales

This award recognises Registered Nurses who have made a significant difference to the development and or delivery of high quality education to those who deliver/ aim to deliver health care.

Registered Nurse - Child Award

Sponsored by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

This award aims to recognise a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife who has made an outstanding contribution to care of children, young people or the midwifery care of mothers-to-be/ parent/s.

Research, Innovation and Digitalisation in Nursing Award

Sponsored by Digital Health and Care Wales

This award is intended to recognise nurses and midwives who have improved the care of people through evidence-based innovations to deliver and / or influence change. Nominators should provide a clear narrative explaining why and how the research or transformation was developed or implemented and how this change has improved the patient experience and outcomes of care.

Community & Primary Care Nursing Award

Sponsored by Hywel Dda University Health Board

This award celebrates the achievements of all registrants of the NMC register who have made an outstanding contribution to the care of people in a primary or community-based setting.

Independent Sector Nursing Award

Sponsored by ivolve Care & Support

This award aims to recognise a Registered Nurse or Health Care Support Worker who has made an outstanding contribution to care within the independent health and social care sector in Wales. Nominees will be a Registered Nurse or Health Care Support Worker committed to providing the highest quality care within the Independent Sector, to improve quality of life.

Nursing Student Award

Sponsored by Health Education and Improvement Wales

This award aims to recognise Nursing/Midwifery students who have shown exceptional promise during their professional education and/or practice placements.

Registered Nurse - Learning Disabilities Award

Sponsored by Swansea Bay University Health Board

This award aims to recognise an exceptional Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse who is being recognised for their innovative and creative approach to the care of people who are living with Learning disabilities.

Specialist Nursing Award

Sponsored by Cardiff & Vale University Health Board

This award aims to recognise nurses undertaking specialist practice who make an outstanding contribution to patient care, including the introduction of changes that leads to innovative programmes of care.

Health Care Support Worker Award

Sponsored by Welsh Joint Commissioning Committee

This award is open to any Health Care Support Worker who has demonstrated commitment to providing high standards of care within nursing teams. They must work providing health or social care under the guidance and supervision of a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor and should not be on the professional register (such as NMC).