Rockingham aged care nurse wins 2020 Nurse of the Year

A nurse from the Rockingham Peel Health Group has been named Western Australia's Nurse of the Year for 2020.

Aged Care Transition and Liaison Nurse Deborah Jones also won the category award for Excellence in Primary, Public and Community Care.

Ms Jones took out the awards at the WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards (WANMEA), held on the weekend at Rockingham Regional Hospital.

Ms Jones has been involved in a project that aims to achieve sustainable outcomes for older adults at risk of readmission to hospital.

She works closely with patients as they are discharged from hospital ensuring they transition safely from acute care to home.

Ms Jones' work has led to a decline in adverse outcomes and readmission to hospital with patients reporting improved understanding of their medical conditions and medications.

A further 12 of WA's most accomplished nurses and midwives from across public and private health and the education sector received awards across 12 individual categories. 

"The WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards provide Western Australians with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the approximately 38,000 nurses and midwives across the State working in private, public and non-government sectors," Health Minister Roger Cook said.

"Each nurse and midwife has been nominated by colleagues or patients for making a significant difference to their professions and organisations, and to the health and wellbeing of the Western Australian community."

A full list of WANMEA winners can be found at http://www.wanmea.com.au