Next week, the Bermuda Nurses Association will join nurses around the world to celebrate the final Nurses Week for this century.

And they will mark the occasion by looking to the past and then setting their sights on the future.

Under the theme, "Celebrating Nursing's Past: Claiming the Future'', they will herald their accomplishments and reaffirm their commitment to care for the public in sickness and in health.

"This is the 15th year for Nurses Week,'' said nurse Pandora Hardtman. "And we always hold a week of events that benefit the community and that allow the nurses to come together.'' "The purpose of the week is to bring nursing to the forefront and to bring the nursing community together,'' added nurse Lovette Lovell. "We generally have four objectives during the week -- to increase the camaraderie between nurses, honour an outstanding nurse, bring information to the community and celebrate our achievements.'' And Ms Lovell said that since 1999 was the International Year of the Older Persons, it made sense that to honour the contributions of retired nurses.

The week kicks off with a celebratory service at St. Paul's AME Church in Hamilton on Sunday, May 2.

The service will be followed by a tea party and fashion show at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club where the Nurse of the Year will be announced.

"Nurses nominate their peers and then a special committee evaluates the nominations,'' explained Ms Hardtman.

Ms Lovell added that tribute will be paid to retired nurses during the tea party.

"We are planning a fun skit which will depict the good and the bad in the nursing practice past and present,'' she said. "We have extended invitations to retired nurses.'' The Fancy Dress Bowling competition, to be held the next day at the Warwick Lanes Bowling Alley, will allow the nurses the chance to get together in friendly competition.

"There are different areas of nursing on the Island,'' Ms Hardtman pointed out. "The bowling and sporting events provide each type of nurse an opportunity to come together and socialise with each other.

"The different groups of nursing will get a team together and decide how they will dress up for the bowling competition.'' The mid-week events are aimed at forging closer ties between the nurses and the community they serve.

Nurses will go out into the community to perform health checks at four different locations around the Island.

"The Tuesday and Thursday events are for the community,'' Ms Hardtman explained. "There will be blood pressure and sugar screenings, pamphlets with general health information will be distributed and the nurses will answer any questions the public might have.'' Next Tuesday's health checks will take place at the Hamilton Post Office from 12.30 to 2.30 p.m. and at Collector's Hill Apothecary from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m.

Nurses Week Health checks will also be held on Thursday, May 6, at St. George's Square from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and at Caesar's Pharmacy in Somerset from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 5, the public will get the opportunity to witness the competitive spirit and friendly rivalry between the nursing staff at the Island's two hospitals.

A Netball Grudge Match will be held between King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's Hospital at Bernard Park at 5 p.m.

"This is a hot item,'' joked Ms Hardtman. "There is a fierce rivalry between the hospitals. At the moment St. Brendan's holds the title.

"They are also the basketball champions, but that could change this year.'' A Basketball Grudge Match will be held between the two hospitals on Thursday, May 6 at the Saltus Grammar School at 6 p.m.

The public is welcomed to watch both sports matches.

Nurses Week 1999 will culminate next Friday when the goods collected via the week-long food drive are distributed to the Salvation Army and other needy families.

"Throughout the week there will be bins at the hospital and the various events where the public can donate non-perishable items.'' Anyone interested in attending the Nurses Tea and Fashion Show should call 291-0294 and leave a voice mail message.

NURSES WEEK 1999 CALENDAR Nurses Week 1999 Calendar Sunday, May 2: Church Service at St. Paul's AME Church on Court Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nurses Tea and Fashion Show at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club from 4 to 6 p.m. The Nurse of the Year will be announced. Tickets $30; Monday, May 3: Fancy Dress Bowling at Warwick Lanes from 7 to 9 p.m. Prizes awarded for the best dresses, worst dressed, best score and worst score; Tuesday, May 4: Health checks at Hamilton Post Office from 12.30 to 2.20 p.m.

and at the Collector's Hill Apothecary from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m.; Wednesday, May 5: Grudge Match in netball between King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's at Bernard's Park from 5 to 7 p.m.; Thursday, May 6: Health checks at St. George's Square from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and at Caesar's Pharmacy in Somerset from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m. A Grudge Match in basketball between King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St.

Brendan's at Saltus Grammar School from 6 to 9 p.m.; and Friday, May 7: Food Drive. Bring non-perishable items to the Hospital lobby throughout the week. The items will be distributed to the community at the end of the week.