Nurses right across New Zealand and all over the world were recognised and celebrated for their vital work on Tuesday.

As part of International Nurses Day the Waikato District Health Board also recognised the vital role their nurses play in delivering quality care to patients with a range of competitions yesterday.

Nurses from across the Waikato DHB worked together to design wearable art made from expired nursing equipment. Photo: Waikato DHB

Those competitions included: best decorated ward foyer, best decorated and tasting cake, best wearable recyclable fashion parade and Nurse of the Year 2015.

Waikato District Health Board nursing and midwifery director Sue Hayward says wonderful fun was had by all.

'Every day nurses make a true difference to so many aspects of health care delivery, patient experience and patient outcomes,” says Sue. 'International Nurses Day provides a vehicle that allows celebration of this plus invites peer recognition.

She adds: 'In the business of our lives this sometimes is missed and what is clear is the appreciation nurses have for each other when they work as a team, sharing skills, knowledge and the highs and lows of the shift.”

Sue would also like to congratulate Nina De Visser who was named Nurse of the Year 2015, saying she is a truly deserving winner.

Nina was nominated by her colleagues who wrote she has 'by example, brought the level of nursing care up on the ward”.

The recommendation went on to say: 'She works so hard, everyday. Having Nina working with you on a shift means you know you will be supported, and that is of incalculable worth.”

'What it has meant to me, is that I have a colleague who I'm proud of, feel totally supported by, and although she is technically my junior, someone whose nursing care I try to emulate. I know she will go far in her career.”