History

The Nursing Service Cross was instituted on 18 October 1989 as a replacement for the Royal Red Cross. It was awarded to nurses who provided outstanding care in operational and non-operational situations. If a recipient received the award again, it was issued in the form of a ribbon bar.

The sterling silver cross has four straight arms and the Crown of St. Edward is attached to the top of the upper cross arm. The obverse of the cross is inlaid with transparent red enamel. The ribbon is white with a thick centre stripe and a thin gold stripe along each edge.

The Cross was discontinued in 2007 with only 27 recipients and 1 ribbon bar.

Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters NSC.