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.
