Sílvia Nunes who emigrated to the UK in 2014 after not being able to find work as a nurse in Portugal, was this past weekend awarded the Great British Care Award in the category of Best Nurse for Innovation, Creativity and Attention at Work, organisers announced on Saturday.


The Portuguese 34-year-old was in the running with seven other colleagues in the Good Nurse Awards, and was the only foreigner nominated in her category.


This is Ms. Nunes’ second top nursing prize in the UK, after being chosen as ‘Best Nurse – East of England’ by the same institution last year, as well as being named ‘Personality of 2018’.


Speaking to newspaper Jornal de Notícias, she said: “This is not my country yet they recognise my work, they reward my work, and whether it’s British or not, that’s a good thing!


“I wish Portugal acknowledged people like that. They would see that people would work with more spirit and a different type of happiness”.


In a statement, Care England said: “Silvia represents the very best in nursing in a care home setting.


“She is innovative, creative, passionate and goes the extra mile for residents, their families and her staff. She gives people the value and dignity they deserve. She strives to promote high quality nursing within her staff team and is an excellent role model”.
The national awards were announced at a prize-giving ceremony in Birmingham (UK), with more than a thousand health and nursing professionals attending.


Originally from Vila do Conde, Ms. Nunes moved to the United Kingdom in 2014 to look for work in her area after failing to find a job as a nurse in Portugal.


In spite of initial difficulties with the English language, after about a year she was promoted to clinical director and, in September 2016, to assistant director of the Ford Place home, which specialises in palliative care.


In 2018, the Portuguese nurse was voted Personality of 2018 by readers of P3 pharmacy magazine.