Vitals Global Healthcare, together with the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses and the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer have launched a new national award, to honor nurses who lead the way in the spirit of compassion, nurturing, knowledge through evidence based practices and research, and commitment to quality and safety.

The award was launched during an event organized by MUMN in celebration of the International Nurses and Midwives Day at San Anton Palace in Attard, Malta.

The award is a way to recognize the outstanding commitment demonstrated by nurses who constantly exceed expectations in their profession. Nominations will be received from colleagues and patients who experience the work of dedicated professionals consistently and is open to professional nurses licensed to work and actively employed in Malta for the last 5 years.

The criteria for the Malta Florence Nightingale Nursing Award are:

• 15% Excellence in clinical nursing skills

• 15% Teamwork and development of effective interpersonal relationships

• 10% Community engagement: volunteer service activities, local or international 10% Effective leadership and management skills

• 10% Publication of nursing related article, essay, opinions in local journals or periodicals

• 10% Publication of research, EBP, research utilization reviews or research reviews in peer reviewed journals or nursing journals as primary author

• 10% Publication or oral presentation of quality improvement projects or evidence-based practice (EBP) projects

• 10% personal professional development through advancement in career

• 10% professional development of other nurses through mentoring and coaching

All applications will be de-identified and reviewed by a panel with members from MUMN, VGH and Malta Directorate, and one final winner will be announced.