Training and Education nurse Bradlyn DeShields was crowned "Nurse of the Year" by her colleagues yesterday in a brunch ceremony at La Coquille to kick off Nurses Week.

President of the Bermuda Nurses Association Patrice Dill, said Ms DeShields epitomises the dedication of the profession.

"If anyone wants a role model to see what it takes to be a true nurse you're looking at her," Ms Dill said.

She added that Ms DeShields has worked across the spectrum of nursing - starting as a nursing assistant then becoming an enrolment nurse and later a registered nurse.

Ms DeShields went on to earn her Bachelor's and Master's degrees and is currently at work on her doctorate, Ms Dill said.

"What does it take to be a nurse? It takes guts because we're not highly paid or respected by many people but we get the job done," she said.

Ms DeShields received a standing ovation from her fellow nurses as well as Minister of Health Nelson Bascome, Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley and Chief Nursing Officer Gaylia Landry.

"I want to thank all the people who just do what they do and wouldn't be missed unless they didn't do it," said Ms DeShields of her colleagues. "I want to dedicate this award to all of those people.

Nurses Week will run though May 12 which is International Nursing Day and marks the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.

This year's theme is "Caring for Families."

"Nurses can be powerful advocates in determining the best policies for family health," Minister Bascome said, reading from a proclamation he prepared for Nurses Week.

There were 12 nominees from various divisions of Bermuda's health care system put forward by the co-workers for the Nurse of the Year title.