SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Each year the Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA), District V, hosts a contest, “My Favorite Nurse” as part of their Nurses Celebration Week, May 6 -12.

Community members and fellow staff members are invited to write in and nominate a nurse that has made a difference in their lives. The contest is held a couple of weeks prior to National Nurses Week, May 6 through May 12, with the winner announced during the weekly nurses celebration. Last year District V representatives named Ernie Olson, APRN-BC, Mitchell Medical Center the winner of this award.

This year's Nurse Week celebration will culminate at University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing with an evening of celebration. The evening event, which is scheduled for May 4th, 2009 at 5:30 p.m., will bring together nurses from the panhandle area to celebrate their work as the largest group of health care providers in America. A healthy cuisine, a collage displaying the countless ways nurses participate in our community to promote health, a tribute to nurses who are veterans or are currently serving in the military, and the presentation of the traditional “My Favorite Nurse” award will highlight the event. In addition, a nurses week proclamation will be signed by Scottsbluff Mayor Randy Meininger.

“This will be a great way for the panhandle nursing community to celebrate this special week,” says Kim Rodehorst-Weber, Ph.D., R.N., District V President and Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing.

Please send nominations for your favorite nurse to District V NNA, P.O. Box 51, Scottsbluff, NE, 69361. The deadline for receiving nominations is April 30th.

For more information about this event, please call Rodehorst at (308) 632-0420 or (308) 632-0412 or Holly Anderson at (308) 630-1036.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.