Search

26 Mar 2026

Super achievement Nicola! Outstanding Midlands hospital nurse is first ever recipient of prestigious award

The award celebrates nurses who demonstrate excellence in their roles

Nicola McCormack, Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse as the first-ever recipient of the Basia Award.

Nicola McCormack, Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse as the first-ever recipient of the Basia Award.

The Operating Theatre Department in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore has announced that Nicola McCormack, Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse is the first-ever recipient of the Basia Award.

This award was created in memory of deceased colleague Barbara Michalec (Basia), a perioperative nurse in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore who consistently went above and beyond to ensure her patients received the highest quality of care. The award celebrates nurses who demonstrate excellence in their roles, mirroring Basia's dedication and expertise.

Also read: Stage star: Longford student awarded a full scholarship to The Brighton Academy

Organisers of the award said, "Nicola, a new graduate when she entered the Operating Theatre Department, has quickly developed into an exemplary nurse, showcasing remarkable skills and knowledge in her area. She is a strong patient advocate, able to verbalise their needs to all team members honestly and respectfully. Nicola's commitment to continuous professional development is evident through her pursuit of a postgraduate diploma in perioperative nursing."

Brendan Malone, interim Director or Nursing in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, congratulating Nicola said: ''The senior management in Tullamore Hospital would like to congratulate Nicola on her award and thank her for her dedication. To win the inaugural Basia award, in memory of our colleague Barbara, is a wonderful achievement for Nicola and a testament to the hard work which continues to make a positive impact on patients’ lives in the Midlands region.''

Also read: Followers 'sobbing' as Irish influencer Rachel Gorry shares twin pregnancy news

Nicola is the winner of the €1,000 education bursary donated by the Orthopaedic Trauma Service from the Irish Hip Fracture Database Fund.

The Basia Award recognises not only Nicola's outstanding attributes, but also celebrates the legacy of Barbara Michalec. Her dedication and expertise will continue to inspire excellence in perioperative nursing at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. Well done to all involved.

Also read: Longford family complete marathon challenge in memory of their late mother

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.