THE deadline for the search for the best and brightest Welsh nurses has been extended until next month.

Nominees for the prestigious Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales ‘Nurse of the Year’ Awards for 2017 are already being whittled down.

The chance for members of the public and health care professionals to put forward their choices in one of 17 awards will now run until this Sunday.

First introduced six years ago, the competition looks to highlight the achievements of the nursing family in Wales and to recognise the health workers who demonstrate excellence in practice.

Nurses who demonstrate a passion for their profession can be nominated by peers, teams, managers, patients and the general public.

The winners are selected by panels of judges - for a total of 18 awards including Wales Nurse of the Year – consisting of distinguishes nursing leaders and experts.

This year, the RCN in Wales is introducing two new awards. The Primary Care Nursing Award and the Suzanne Goodall Paediatric Nursing Award.

Tina Donnelly, Director of RCN in Wales said: “Our award winners and runners-up exemplify the nursing profession’s highest values: dedication to patient care, leadership, altruism and commitment to service and the awards celebrate the brightest stars of the nursing family in Wales.”

The awards will culminate in a celebrity gala dinner, hosted by BBC presenter Jason Mohammad and ITV presenter Andrea Byrne, on Wednesday, November 15 at Cardiff’s City Hall.

In addition to the prestige associated with winning an award, category winners will receive a monetary prize plus a trophy.

The overall winner will receive the accolade of being recognised as Wales Nurse of the Year 2017 and will receive a prize in recognition of this.

Gaynor Jones, Chair of the RCN Welsh Board and RCN Council Member for Wales, described the event as a tribute “not only to those who receive awards on the night but to the excellence of the many thousands of practicing nurses throughout Wales.”

She added: “As a practicing nurse I know the value of nursing in health care provision.

“All of our shortlisted candidates have one thing in common: an unwavering dedication to their patients and to nursing as a whole.”

Online nomination forms for all 17 categories can be completed here.