Supporting Improvement through Research Award

Nursing research and development builds and provides the evidence on which nursing and midwifery practice is based and contributes to the continued development of nursing knowledge. Nursing research spans all age ranges along with the entire health spectrum from enhancing wellbeing to end of life care.

About the award: This award aims to recognise and reward quality in nursing and midwifery research, which may be of a preliminary nature e.g. pilot studies, clinical audit or service innovation.

Who can be nominated?

A Registered Nurse, Midwife or Health Care Support Worker (who is delegated work by a Registered Nurse, Midwife or Health Visitor) who are:

• Working at any level within a clinical, academic, or management role within Wales
• Engaged in research, clinical audit or service innovation within any health care or health and social care research environment
• Practising in any sector for example: Education, NHS, Independent Health and Social Care Sector, Third Sector, or Local Authority
• Diversity in nominees is encouraged to reflect the workforce in Wales
  
   

Criteria

Nominees will have:

• Ability to demonstrate that their work is commensurate with national policy and strategy within health and social care
• Demonstrated outstanding contribution to, or application of research and development, clinical audit or service innovation
• Promotes an evidence based approach to innovation within their sphere of practice
• Shown an active engagement in dissemination of research through presentation, publication or other means, or have documented contributions of research, research and development, clinical audit or service innovation within Wales 
• Exhibited leadership in strengthening the profile of nursing and midwifery research 
• Show commitment to and passion for the nursing or midwifery profession, going the “extra mile” demonstrating a “can do” positive attitude

What makes a winning entry? - top tips to make you nomination stand out from the crowd!

Please read the nomination guidance note before beginning your submission. 

We also have short video guides available: The Basics; Making your application shine; and Patient nominations. You can watch all guidance videos on our RCN Wales Youtube Channel

• Tell us why you are nominating this person by using the full 500-word limit for your submission. The more detailed you are the better so make full use of the word count given to you!
• Start with their success: What’s the headline? What are you proud of? Start with the attention-grabbing success to hook the judges immediately 
• When writing your 500 words, please refer to the award criteria for the category you are nominating for and hit each point mentioned by providing solid evidence. that way, you’ll increase your chances of your nomination being shortlisted!
• Please tell us specifically how your nominee has gone over and above the requirements of their role, and/or how they have made significant contributions to their field of work.
• Lastly but not least, check your spelling and grammar! Professionalism and care are equally as important in your nominations! Spell out any acronyms to be as clear to the judges as possible, don’t make any assumptions that they know what you’re talking about!

We also encourage patient nominations; we want to hear about how your experience of excellent nursing care has touched your lives. This could be yourself, a family member or someone who is making a difference in your local community!  Contact RCN Wales if you would like help in choosing a category to nominate. NurseoftheYearAwards@rcn.org.uk

Diversity in nominees is encouraged to reflect the workforce in Wales across all areas of nursing; Independent Health and Social Care Sector, Third Sector, NHS, or Local Authority.