Outstanding staff
and inspirational students from Northumbria University have been shortlisted
for four prestigious national awards by the Student Nursing Times.
The
University has been shortlisted for the national Nurse Education Provider of
the Year (post-registration) title, after winning the same award three years
running between 2012 and 2014, while lecturer Barry Hill has been shortlisted
in the Educator of the Year category. Adult Nursing student Florence Pobee, who
has been described by her tutors and fellow students as “a true inspiration to
others”, has been shortlisted in the Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the
Year category and Student Midwife Kerrie Page has been shortlisted in the
Student Midwife of the Year category.
Senior
Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Barry Hill, is no stranger to accolades after recently
winning the Best Lecturer Award internally at Northumbria, as voted by the
University’s nursing students. He has been described by his peers as “a breath
of fresh air” in the department and his passion for nursing is demonstrated in
his teaching.
“I feel honoured to be nominated for this
award,” said Barry. “I have always tried to be as dynamic as I can in the
classroom and inclusive. Most importantly, I just want my students to have the
best experience possible.”
Kenyan-born
Florence Pobee is a second year student nurse who started the Adult Nursing degree in 2017 after overcoming numerous obstacles in her life. Despite this,
Florence has been described by her tutors as having “a thirst for life” and is
a positive role model in class, as well as an exemplary student who achieves
excellent grades.
Speaking
about her nomination, Florence said: “It is the best thing to ever happen to me
in my life. Caring for patients is my passion. Being a nurse and looking after
patients is what I always wanted to do since I was a little girl. I love caring
and making little differences in people’s lives. It goes a long way.”
Student
Midwife, Kerrie, who lives in Bensham, Gateshead, has been shortlisted to
receive the Student Midwife of the Year Award as a result of her passion for
development and excellence of care for women accessing maternity services.
“I am feeling very overwhelmed to be even considered for this
award,” she said. “Midwifery is a vocation that I hold in high regard. I want
to be a midwife who is proactive in taking every opportunity to promote health,
to support women achieve optimal birth outcomes and who embraces the model of
midwifery care.”
The
Student Nursing Times Awards are the only national awards to celebrate the very
best student nurses and nurse education providers in the country. They
recognise and reward institutions and individuals who are committed to
developing new nursing talent, as well as student nurses who demonstrate the
academic achievement, clinical skills and personal qualities that will make
exceptional nurses.
Joanne Atkinson, Northumbria’s Associate Head of Department,
Nursing Midwifery and Health, said:
“We have been shortlisted for the Nurse Education Provider of the Year Award
because of our diverse offer. We are well respected and have won this award
three years in a row in previous years. We have a strong reputation nationally
for nursing education, partnership working with health trusts and developing a
workforce that is fit for purpose in a landscape that is ever changing in the
NHS.”
Northumbria’s
nursing programmes were the first in the country to be accredited by the Royal
College of Nursing (RCN) and are ranked 22nd in the UK in The Times
and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.
The
awards will be held in London on Friday 26 April.
