Renée Faulcon has been named Bermuda’s Nurse of the Year.

It was the fourth time Ms Faulcon, 58, from Devonshire, had been nominated for the prestigious award.

Ms Faulcon, who teaches nursing at Bermuda College after working abroad, said that the island needs more medical staff.

She told The Royal Gazette: “I’m so happy to receive this. Bermuda needs more nurses.

“That’s one of the reasons I came home to work in nursing education; to make sure we educate people here in Bermuda, so they don’t have to go away.

“I worked in North Carolina and Maryland, and one of the reasons I came back was to try to encourage more people to come into nursing.

“I was so grateful to be nominated for this award — I think any one of us could have been Nurse of the Year.

“I absolutely share this with all the other nurses.

“I work in a team. I’m the type of person who would say, ‘Don’t put me up front, I will work behind the scenes, ask me whatever you want me to do, but don’t put me up front’. And now look where I am, Nurse of the Year!”

Ms Faulcon added she likes to see the changes in her students.

She said: “I do miss the hands-on nursing because it is dealing with direct patient care. But I love what I do, working with students, because you get to see the change in them. From when they start to see how they have blossomed is incredible.

“I am absolutely shocked and excited to win this award.”

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, attended the Bermuda Nursing Association prize-giving ceremony yesterday and expressed her gratitude for the dedication of nursing staff on the island.