A PRESTON nurse has proved she is a winner after reaching the finals of The Nursing Times awards.

Accident and emergency nurse, Sister Sarifa Kabir, of Royal Preston Hospital, fought off tough competition in the contest to find some of the country's best nursing staff.

Sister Kabir won her place after giving a presentation entitled 'Accidents among Ethnic Minorities' for a panel of judges in London last week.

"It was gruelling and I was extremely nervous," said Sister Kabir. "Afterwards I had to have my photograph taken. I thought it would be a quick snap but he took about 25 pictures!

"I can't wait to go to London in my gladrags for the final."

Now she will vie for the Innovation of Working with Patients from Different Ethnic Group's award on Thursday October 10 at a Park Lane hotel in London.

Sister Kabir is not the only nurse to win a place in the finals. Members of the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust's Continence Advisory Team will also be there, including nurses Ian Pomfret, Julie Vickerman and Claire Holden.

The nursing trio submitted an article on their specialist work before giving a presentation. According to hospital chiefs the nurses earned recognition for being the first multi-professional continence team in the UK.

Big cash prizes are up for grabs for winners at the awards ceremony. But, if they win, the nurses have pledged to plough their £1,000 winnings back into the physiotherapy continence service to buy new equipment.