After teaching hundreds of new mothers how to breast-feed, Carmel Baxter received the Nurse of the Year Award at a special lunch yesterday afternoon.

Ms Baxter, originally from Nottingham, England, is a Registered Nurse and Health Visitor who has worked in Bermuda since 1997.

After being presented with the award in front of more than 50 of her associates, Ms Baxter said her initial reaction was one of shock.

"There's so many nurses on the Island who do so much for the community," she said.

Ms Baxter said she has learned to adapt to Bermuda's health care structure since she arrived on the Island to work as an Emergency Room nurse in 1997.

She switched to the Health Department in 1998 to work as a health visitor. Health visitors are nurses with post-graduate qualifications in community health. Ms Baxter visits new mothers and their babies at home, offering breast feeding advice, post natal care tips, parenting advice, and education on infant and child care.

Ms Baxter demonstrates her versatility in all areas of nursing, however, she especially enjoys visiting families and getting to know them on a one to one basis. She works with pregnant teenage women, teaching a parenting group at Teen Services and visits Teen Haven.

When asked why she thought she had earned the title, Ms Baxter said she thought it was a combination of hard work, a genuine love for her job, and the support of her colleagues.

"I really enjoy interacting with parents, I like the supportive role of helping mothers learn how to breast feed and the opportunity we have to help the community reach their optimum health level with the resources they have," she said. "I don't find it difficult to come to work and do what I do. I like to do my best and I think maybe that kind of thing genuinely comes through."

Ms Baxter has helped to set up the health department's new 2004 health visiting scheme which increases the number of follow-up visits nurses make to new mothers throughout the year. Mothers who gave birth in January will receive follow-up visits this July.

Nurses are nominated for the award each year by either their peers or the public. The ballot forms are reviewed by a Nomination Committee and judged for their community service, professional development, promotion of careers in nursing, and leadership development.

"Carmel does a wonderful job for the young women of our island. She is a credit to the nursing profession in Bermuda," said Patrice Dill, President of the Bermuda Nurses Association.

Bermuda Hospitals Board CE), Joan Dillas-Wright said nurses had enjoyed celebrating nurses week, which ran from May 10-16. "Bermuda is very lucky to have so many dedicated professionals looking after us. We congratulate Carmel for her tireless efforts and thank the public for their support during Nurses' Week."