Published on 26 April 2018
University of Sunderland nursing students proved they had their finger on the pulse after picking up a prestigious prize at this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards.
The University had already proved it was streets ahead of the opposition after receiving five nominations as part of the 2018 awards.
Now in their seventh year, they are the only national awards to celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education.
The School of Nursing saw off opposition from across the UK to be named Post – registration Education Provider of the Year.
Kate Brown, Programme Leader for the Advanced Diploma in Chronic Disease Management and the Advanced Diploma in General Practice Nursing at the University of Sunderland, picked up the award.
She said: “I was shaking, I was so nervous.
“I knew the judging had gone well and I’d got over the things I wanted to say but you’re up against the best in the country, so I knew it was going to be tough.
“It’s been an incredible day for the whole team. Just to be nominated is an honour so we can all leave here feeling very proud.”
Feedback from Kate’s students shows why the judges decided she was the best in the country. Comments from students included:
“Really great lecturers, very knowledgeable, very approachable, tailored to the needs of the students. Really enjoyed the course, would highly recommend.”
“Brilliant lecturer, really informative, excellent hand-outs and information.”
“All the lecturers made every session very informative, motivated us to be engaged working in small groups. Made every topic interesting and enjoyable.”
“Kate taught at a level we understood.”
Sue Brent, head of the Sunderland School of Nursing, said: “We are delighted to have picked up this award. The team we work with has a real passion for what they do and we are wholly committed to delivering high quality, job-ready graduates who will make a real difference to patient care.
“Our school continues to grow and we are looking forward to continuing the exciting developments with our partner Trusts over the coming years.”
The awards were announced during a glittering ceremony on Thursday 26 April 2018 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
Jenni Middleton, Nursing Times editor and host of the Student Nursing Times Awards added: “The Student Nursing Times Awards are a fantastic celebration of student nurses and the universities and placement providers that educate and train them. The skills, expertise and insight that is taught by educators and mentors in provider organisations as well as in the academic setting is to be celebrated because it inspires our next generation of nursing talent.
“Every year, our judges are stunned by the standard of our entrants, and this year in particular they commented to me just how much better the quality of applicants was. We are delighted to be handing out these trophies to the very best students, and the organisations that are supporting them and helping them to become nurses.”
The University was also proud to be shortlisted in the following categories:
Pre-registration Provider of the year
This nomination was for the University of Sunderland’s BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice programme; but the nomination is not just for the programme, it is to recognise the team of dedicated people who, day in day out, are making the student experience the best it can be.
Stacy Humphrey, a 1st Year student nurse, said: “I couldn’t think of a better start to my nursing career than to be studying at the University of Sunderland. The support is fantastic, the facilities are outstanding and the confidence and knowledge I am gaining is setting me up for my career in nursing.”
Partnership of the Year:
In 2016 the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing embarked on a new and exciting venture.
The faculty teamed up with Reservist forces from the Sunderland 251 Medical Squadron. The partnership started with the sharing of ideas and quickly grew into much more.
The Army reserve centre based at Roker, Sunderland has NOW opened its doors to Sunderland students and supported the BSC (Hons) Adult Nursing programme with team building, leadership and trauma days.
The students have experienced scenarios they would not normally see during a pre-registration nursing programme and with this, they have developed new skills which will support them long after they qualify.
Partnership of the Year: The University’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement Partnership.
This partnership started in 2014 with a handful of patients. It now has over 100 participants.
Educator of the Year – Dr Catherine Hayes
A leader in her field and qualified in podiatric medicine for 25 years, Catherine is a Reader in Pedagogic Practice.
Passionate about new ideas, Catherine led the design of the University of Sunderland’s BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice curriculum in partnership with nursing colleagues from our partner Trusts.
This academic year alone, Catherine has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship, a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, a Visiting Professorship in Higher Education Pedagogic Practice and has established and led a new national special interest group for the national (Researching Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement) RAISE Network.