These awards serve to spotlight excellence in Scottish nursing, acknowledging, highlighting, and celebrating the unwavering commitment and exceptional professional care provided by our nursing staff.
The categories encompass various nursing specialties, acknowledging the indispensable contributions of registered nurses, nursing support workers, broader nursing teams and nursing students. They also recognise the innovation, leadership, and dedication to learning displayed within the nursing community.
From the isles of Shetland to the lowland of the Borders, nominations were encouraged from all corners of health and social care, spanning the NHS acute and community services to GP practices, care homes and the third sector.
Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland Board Chair, commented on the announcement of the finalists, stating: "The judges were overwhelmed by both the quantity and quality of nominations received. Narrowing down the selection to today's finalists was a formidable task. I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to showcase the innovation and commitment of nurses, nursing support workers and nursing students. Regardless of the outcome, all our finalists exemplify the daily dedication of nursing staff in delivering the best of nursing care for the people of Scotland."
Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "Our awards are a wonderful occasion and allow us to give some well-deserved recognition for and demonstrate the excellence of nursing staff in Scotland. The calibre of submissions was exceptional, and we hope the finalists, as well as anyone who was nominated, feels the love and appreciation people have for the work they do."
The winners of each category will be unveiled at our grand awards ceremony on 23 May at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The highly coveted overall RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2024 will be selected from the registered nurse winners across the eligible categories.
Our esteemed finalists are:
| Category | Finalists |
|
Adult Nursing Award |
John McDonald, Senior Addiction Nurse, North East Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, Glasgow Margaret Harkin, In-Reach District Nurse, Inverclyde HSCP Sharon Sutherland, Parkinson's Nurse Specialist, NHS Highland |
| Care Home Nursing Award | Maxine Kinnoch, Home Manager, Boclair Care Home, Care Concern Group Ng Pei Shan, Registered Nurse, Camilla House Care Home, Sanctuary Care Robyn Oliphant, Clinical Lead, Lisden Nursing Home, Balhousie Care Group |
| Children's Nursing and Midwifery Award | Care Experienced Young People's Service (CEYPS), NHS Tayside Elaine Wilson, Deputy Charge Nurse, Midlothian Immunisation Team, NHS Lothian West of Scotland Mother & Baby Unit, Leverndale Hospital, NHS GG&C |
| Clinical Leadership Award Sponsored by Anderson Strathern |
Fiona Hunt, Team Manager Organ Perfusion and Preservation, Edinburgh Transplant Centre, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, NHS Lothian Lynsey Russell, Senior Charge Nurse, Critical Care, NHS Borders Shona Malone, Interim Operational Manager Prison Health Care, HMP Low Moss NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| Inspiring Excellence - Nursing Innovation and Research Award Sponsored by NHS Grampian |
Dr Deborah Baldie, Lead Nurse Research and Development, NHS Grampian |
| Learning Disability Nursing Award | CAMHS Intellectual Disability Outpatient Nursing Team, NHS Tayside Learning Disability Queen's Nurses, Queen's Nursing Institute for Scotland (QNIS) Strathaird, William Fraser Centre, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, NHS Lothian |
| Learning in Practice Award | NHSGGC Practice Education, West Glasgow ACH and West House Gartnavel Royal Hospital SANDRA: Supporting Practice Nurses in Diabetes, Revalidation & Appraisal, JJR Macleod Centre for Diabetes, David Anderson Building, NHS Grampian Yasmin Murray, Deputy Charge Nurse MHDU, NHS Ayrshire and Arran |
| Mental Health Nursing Award | Frances Aitken, Lead Dementia Nurse for Stress and Distress, St John's Hospital, Livingston, NHS Lothian Pauline Zvimba, Senior Advanced Nurse, Practitioner Auchinlea CMHT, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Susan Holland, Nurse Consultant-Dementia, AND Mental Health Services, NHS Ayrshire and Arran |
| Nursing Student of the Year | Chloe Jackson, Former Nursing Student, Robert Gordon University Kasey Saunders,Nursing Student (Mental Health), The Open University University of Edinburgh Saving Lives Nursing Students |
| Nursing Support Worker of the Year Sponsored by NHS Golden Jubilee |
Angela Brown, Care Assistant, Braemount Nursing Care Home, Paisley, Advinia Health Care David Mclaughlin, HCSW Education and Development Lead, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Gemma Walker, HCSW Associate Practice Educator, Practice Development Team, NHS Tayside |
| Nursing Team of the Year Sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde |
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Police Custody Healthcare, Govan Police Station Scottish Adult Congenital Cardiac Service, Golden Jubilee University National Hospital Ward 4, Specialist Dementia Unit – Nursing Team, Forth Valley Royal Hospital |
| People's Choice Award Sponsored by The Sunday Post |
The finalists in this category will be announced in The Sunday Post on 14 April 2024. |
For further insights into why these remarkable individuals have been shortlisted as exemplary representatives of nursing in Scotland, please visit our awards pages.
