Six newly qualified adult and children’s
nurses have each received an award in recognition of their exceptional efforts
in their nursing studies and caring for patients.
The prestigious Heath Award is awarded
in recognition of the commitment they’ve shown whilst studying for their degree
at Northumbria University; both academically and within their work placements
in local NHS hospitals and community teams.
The Heath Award, which was established
in 1892 by George Yeoman Heath, former President of the Royal College of
Medicine, is presented each year to the best nurses and midwives graduating
from Northumbria’s nursing and midwifery programmes.
Those studying nursing and midwifery
degrees spend half of their time in University, and the other half on placement
in NHS hospitals and community teams across the region, where they put their
new-found skills into practice.
This year’s winners, who all achieved
First Class Honours in their nursing degree programmes, were chosen after being
nominated for their commitment to studies by the University’s academics and
clinical staff.
The
2019 winners are: Daniel Fabian of Killingworth who works as a Children’s Nurse
at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, Amanda Stephenson of
Northumberland who works as a Community Mental Health Nurse in Alnwick and
Berwick, Anna Watkinson from Heaton who works as an Adult Nurse at the RVI,
Claire Gibson of Sunderland who works as a Mental Health Nurse at Monkwearmouth Hospital, Karen Davies
of Rowlands Gill who works as an Adult Nurse at the Queen Elizabeth in
Gateshead, and Madeleine Gray from Morpeth who works as a
Learning Disability Nurse at Northgate Hospital in Northumberland.
One of the winners,
27-year-old Daniel Fabian, went on to work in the Bone Marrow Transplant Ward
at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) – which along with Great Ormond Street
Hospital is one of only two centres in the country providing this specialism.
“We were treating patients
from Europe and the Middle East,” he said. “The children were in hospital for a
long time so you really got to know them and to build a relationship with them.
It was difficult as the children were often very sick. But that is why I got
into nursing to build those relationships which I enjoy.”
Daniel has since moved to the
paediatric research team in the Great North Children’s Hospital at the RVI. His
role involves providing nursing care for children enrolled in clinical research
studies which are across a wide range of areas such as kidneys, skin conditions
and blood treatments.
Professor
Alison Machin, Head of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at
Northumbria University, said: “Every year I am so impressed with the quality of
the nominations for these awards and this year is by no means any exception.
The winners have excelled both in their studies and working with colleagues in
the local NHS, and I am incredibly proud of their achievements.
“Northumbria
University is the largest provider of nurse education in the North East of
England, and we are privileged to have such hard working, compassionate and
high achieving students who develop into high quality, skilled
professionals. It is a real honour to teach and work with them, and it’s
wonderful to be able to recognise their efforts in this way.”
The
students were presented with their awards - a medal and certificate - at a
special ceremony by Professor Kath McCourt, in her capacity as President of the Commonwealth Nurses
and Midwives Federation.
Professor McCourt has had an extensive career as a nurse,
midwife and educationalist in the UK and overseas. On retirement as Executive
Dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, she became a Pro Chancellor at
Northumbria University. She is also a Non-Executive Director at the Newcastle upon Tyne
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor
McCourt said: “Having spent much of my career in the NHS as a both nurse and a
midwife I know first-hand what a rewarding profession it is and how dedicated
and committed my colleagues were, and continue to be. It is a real pleasure for
me to present these awards to such outstanding newly qualified nurses.
“Nursing continues
to evolve and I know that the award winners have bright futures ahead of them as
the role develops.”
Maurya Cushlow, Executive
Chief Nurse at the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Nursing and midwifery are such critical roles, and the quality of care makes
all the difference to the patient experience.
“It’s a privilege to see,
first hand, the excellent new generation of nurses and midwives that are
graduating from Northumbria University, in partnership with our local
hospitals. These students are selected not only for their excellent academic
and clinical performance, but also for the behaviours and qualities they have
displayed throughout their education and training. These winners have set
exceptional standards within their profession already, and are very worthy
recipients of the Heath Award.”
For more
information on nursing, midwifery and health courses at Northumbria University,
visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/nursing
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