Nurses will be honoured for their patience, effort, and knowledge as part of the Bermuda Hospitals Board annual Nurses Week, which starts today.

Nursing as a profession will be promoted with a week of activities from May 10-16.

Recognition for their contribution to the community will kick off at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and at St Brendan?s hospital at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

Health Minister Patrice Minors will read a proclamation and officially declare the start.

Held in May to mark Florence Nightingale?s birthday, nurses are recognised for their tireless efforts. Together with the Bermuda Nursing Association, the Bermuda Hospitals Board arranges activities and presents donations to clinical programme managers for their nursing staff.

?We also use this week to educate the public about the significant work that nurses do and to promote the nursing profession. We invite the general public to thank a nurse who has made a difference in their lives as we celebrate this important week,? said Kathy-Ann Lewis, Chief Operating Officer of Clinical Programmes.

?This is a wonderful opportunity for former patients, colleagues and the general public to acknowledge and thank the nurses of both KEMH and St Brendan?s,? said Patrice Dill, Director at St Brendan?s.

The Nurse of the Year will be announced on Sunday.

?Wendy Augustus has been appointed as Executive Director of the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust.

She will be responsible for donor relations, awareness raising and running the offices. She has worked at the XL Foundation as project manager and has held various posts at the Bank of Bermuda.

Trust chairman Philip Butterfield said: ?Her non-profit background coupled with her experience in strategic planning and process evaluation is invaluable to our organisation.?