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Student nurses and staff at The University of Nottingham are celebrating after scooping four awards at the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards 2017 – almost a quarter of the total awards presented nationally.
The awards are seen as the ‘Oscars’ of the world of nurse and midwife education in the UK and this year the University’s School of Health Sciences won a record 20 nominations across the 18 different categories. The winners were announced at an awards dinner in London.
Claire Vinter was given the award for Student Midwife of the Year, Abigail Baxter won Student Nurse of the Year for Learning Disability, a teaching project ‘Peer-Led Clinical Skills’ won Teaching Innovation of the Year and the Pre-Registration Nursing Programme run by the School was the first ever winner of the new award for Student Experience.
Head of School Professor Joanne Lymn said: “These awards, and the finalist nominations, are the icing on the cake for us, having this week also celebrated our jump to number 9 for nursing and midwifery in the UK in the new Complete University Guide 2018 league tables. I am absolutely delighted for the students who have had their passion and excellence recognised by these awards and would like to thank my staff for creating an environment which engages and empowers students so effectively.”
Commenting on Nottingham’s Pre-Registration Nursing Programme award, the judges said:” Nottingham offers a brilliant university experience judged by many students to have inspired them and encouraged them beyond their expectations. One student told us: "I have become the best nurse I could possibly be because of this university". Another said it is an exceptional university producing first class nurses".
Awarding Nottingham’s Peer-Led Clinical Skills project the Teaching Innovation of the Year Award, the judges commented:” This is a great project that students could not wait to be involved with. Those who participated in this felt that all they wanted was more sessions as they could not get enough of this idea. One told us: "This was so relevant to my studies, it really helped me gain more practical skills in a friendly, stress-free environment."
The judges were impressed by the passion of Student Midwife of the Year, Claire Vinter, who they said demonstrated how much she cares about advocating the rights of women. Claire was described as a warm and caring midwife who clearly values every member of the team.
Claire said:” It is wonderful that the midwifery and nursing professions are celebrated through award ceremonies like this and it was fabulous to be able to represent our cohort of student midwives.”
Abigail Baxter, final year nursing student from Melton Mowbray, said:” It is a huge privilege to have won Student Nurse of the Year (Learning Disabilities) and it has only driven me further to continue professional work that supports diversity and inclusion, both of which are significant for the learning disability population. I'd specifically like to thank a local organisation, Leicester LGBT Centre, as they welcomed and supported me in developing the project which has led to this award.”
The judges said Abigail addressed the very tricky subject of diversity and inclusion among people with learning disabilities sensitively. The innovation seen was described as fantastic, with a clear strategic vision and that Abigail is one to watch!
The School of Health Sciences at Nottingham achieves 100% graduate employment for nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy. 86% of its research was ranked as internationally excellent or world leading by the REF (Research Excellence Framework), with Times Higher Education ranking Nottingham joint 6th for research impact.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with a “distinct” approach to internationalisation, which rests on those full-scale campuses in China and Malaysia, as well as a large presence in its home city.’ (Times Good University Guide 2016). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. It is ranked in the world’s top 75 by the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, and 8th in the UK for research power according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. It has been voted the world’s greenest campus for four years running, according to Greenmetrics Ranking of World Universities.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…