Three University of Nottingham nursing and midwifery students have been awarded runner-up prizes at the Cavell Nurses’ Trust Awards 2015 in London.

Robert Gorton, Natahsa McVey and Nicola Fisher were runners up respectively for the Outstanding Student Nurse Award, the Community Award and the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. The students travelled down to the awards ceremony at the Fishmongers’ Hall in London, where they met Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. As runners up, they also won laptops/tablets to support their studies.

An amazing honour

Robert said: “It’s such an amazing honour to have even been shortlisted, let alone winning at the awards. I just want to stress how important it is to everyone who is enthusiastic and passionate about nursing, that they take every opportunity they can and use their experiences to help the lives of patients, colleagues and themselves, to become the best nurse they can be.

“Grasping everything that’s come my way has led me to developing into the nurse I always wanted to be, in addition to being part of this amazing experience. To all of you who know that you do good, that’s what the Cavell Awards are there for… celebrating outstanding nursing!”

Going the extra mile

Professor Patrick Callaghan, Head of the School of Health Sciences, said: “The School of Health Sciences is renowned for the quality of its teaching and learning, and the contribution of its students in its endeavours. Robert, Natasha and Nicola’s achievements in the Cavell Awards is a testament to their efforts in going the extra mile, their enterprising spirit and their passion for, and commitment to, nursing excellence. The school is immensely proud of them.”

Assistant Professor Stacy Johnson, of the School of Health Sciences, was present on one of this year’s judging panel – a further honour for the school. She commented: “I was impressed by the calibre of all of the candidates nationally. It was a pleasure to read about all the things that student nurses are doing. Based on the entries I have great confidence in the future of nursing.”

Nicola Fisher has also been shortlisted for a Student Nursing Times Award, in the category for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs’. Winners will be announced on Thursday 7 May at the London Hilton on Park Lane.