Bathurst Base Hospital’s Brenden Stapleton was nominated for his calm professionalism in emergencies, natural leadership, and non-judgmental approach to patients.

Mr Stapleton, who is passionate about high-quality support for patients requiring palliative care and their families, was secretly nominated by a colleague.

“When I found out, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Knowing my colleagues value my contribution is very rewarding,” Mr Stapleton said.

Mr Stapleton chose to spend his graduate nursing year in his home city, largely because of his mother – a rural nurse who has since passed away.

“My mother was the reason I became a nurse in the first place. Seeing the difference she made every day to the lives of her patients and peers was truly inspirational,” he said.

Mr Stapleton will soon begin a master’s degree, studying acute and chronic illness, palliative care and pain management. He hopes to develop a pathway program for patients and families going through the palliative care system.

“To be influential I believe you need to have the right combination of floor-level experience and education and that is my motivation to complete my masters, complete a management course and continue working on the ground with patients and families,” Mr Stapleton said.

Bathurst Health Service director of nursing Glenda Entwistle congratulated Mr Stapleton on winning the award.

“Brenden is a great example of our high-calibre nursing staff and we are very fortunate to have such an empathetic and skilled nurse,” she said.

Mr Stapleton was flown to Melbourne for the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards gala dinner.

He will receive a $5000 ME Bank EveryDay Transaction Account and a $5000 education grant.

The prizemoney is provided by ME Bank, a supporter of the awards since 2008.