HER job is to make sure our boys are fighting fit before being deployed across the world.

Now Kathy Ruane is facing her own battle – in the running to become the Nursing Standard’s Nurse of the Year.

The mother-of-one, who is based at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, has been picked as one of just two finalists in the Defence Nursing Award category.

Mrs Ruane, right, who lives in Eynsham, is employed by the Ministry of Defence to be a ‘one stop’ nurse-led clinic to improve the care for army personnel.

This includes people who have returned from wars with long standing injuries and looking after those who have long-term health conditions, such as asthma, who are preparing for battle.

She said: “My job is to make sure the personnel are medically fit to deploy.

“This involves lots of different tests and checks but I have been nominated for my work in making sure those with long term conditions such as asthma and hypertension receive appropriate care.”

Mrs Ruane, who is a civilian nurse, looks after about 2,000 serving army personnel.

The 45-year-old was selected for the prize for her work in vastly improving the way in which the service at the Barracks is run.

In the past, while patients would have an initial appointment and diagnosis, follow-up care needed improvement.

But according to her employers, a new system – pioneered by Mrs Ruane in the seven years she has worked at Dalton Barracks – has led to a better and safer service for patients that also saves money.

Mrs Ruane will discover whether she has won her category when she attends the magazine’s Nurse 2012 Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 22 at the London Hilton in Park Lane.

One of the competition’s nine category winners will also be named Nurse of the Year 2012.

Mrs Ruane said: “I’ve already made my presentation to the Royal College of Nursing, where I had to talk about the work I had done with patients with long term conditions, and am looking forward to the awards evening.“ Nursing Standard’s editor in chief Jean Gray said: “Our annual awards provide a unique opportunity to highlight and reward excellent practice within the nursing profession.”