Two University of Worcester students have been shortlisted in the national 2019 Student Nursing Times Awards.
Kate Robson and Matthew Pimm, Trainee Nursing Associates at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS, who are training at the University of Worcester, have been nominated for their ability to deliver safe, quality hands-on care to their patients.
In their final year of study, they attend the University one day a week alongside Matthew’s role at the Wyre Forest Ward in Kidderminster and Kate’s at Tenbury Community Hospital.
Their nominations for Nursing Associate Trainee of the Year reflect their excellence in providing high-quality patient centred-care, knowledge and understanding within their field, and to critically evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to patient care.
Nursing Associates are a newly formed role developed to support the registered nursing workforce.
Trainees will experience working across a range of settings, including inpatient wards, in the community and in mental health to help them become rounded and more versatile nurses.
The Trainee Nurse Associate role is being used and regulated in England and it is intended to address a skills gap between health care assistants and registered nurses.
The University has long-standing strengths in health education, with a reputation for outstanding quality in its Nursing and Midwifery training.
Ally Middleton, Clinical Project Manager for Nursing Associates, said: “I am very proud of both Matt and Kate. Their hard work and commitment to this new role has been recognised and is testament to the talent that exists in our healthcare workforce.”
Robert Dudley, Head of the University of Worcester’s Three Counties School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “We are thrilled that Matthew and Kate’s achievements and hard work have been recognised in this way and wish them luck on the day. They are both outstanding students whose dedication and commitment to providing high quality, person-centred care has been clear in their work and studies.
“As a University, our aim is to produce Nursing Associates who are competent, confident and compassionate, and can work alongside registered nurses to deliver high quality care across a number of different nursing specialities, in a range of healthcare settings. These two students are excellent ambassadors for what can be achieved through the new Nursing Associate programme and I hope they can inspire others to similar success.”
Kate Robson, Nursing Associate student, said: “I have absolutely loved the challenges and privilege of completing the Nursing Associate training. The support I have received at Tenbury Community Hospital has been phenomenal. It is an absolute honour to have even been nominated by University of Worcester and it is very exciting to be part of this new role within the nursing profession”
Matthew Pimm, Nursing Associate student, said: "It has been a real honour to be nominated and shortlisted for the award. Being a Trainee Nursing Associate has been a fantastic opportunity and been an amazing journey which has enabled me to deliver high quality person-centred care. I would like to thank the University of Worcester, Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, my mentor and my colleagues for all their support."
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 26 April 2019 at the Grosvenor House in London.