The head of a renal dialysis service in Central Australia has been named Australia's top nurse at a ceremony in Brisbane.
Chief executive of Western Desert Dialysis Sarah Brown was the only Northern Territory entrant in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
She works at the Purple House, which provides dialysis services to remote patients in the NT and Western Australia.
"The services we provide mean that people can live in their remote communities and receive dialysis treatment on-country," Ms Brown told ABC Alice Springs local radio.
She did not prepare an acceptance speech ahead of winning the title, saying being the centre of attention at a national awards ceremony was her worst nightmare."I don't drink, I don't like fuss, I don't wear makeup or dress in high-heel shoes, I can't dance," Ms Brown said.
"But to win this award and bring it back to the Territory is fantastic."
Ms Brown is a qualified nurse but is not a trained dialysis nurse, but said she still loved working with patients.
"I do spend quite a bit of time in Alice at the Purple House and get to use my assessment skills and pop a few boils and cut some toenails and pluck some chins and generally be a nursey type," she said.
"I guess the role of nursing is pretty broad these days, isn't it?"