Keele University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery has been shortlisted for three awards in the prestigious Students Nursing Times Awards 2020, including for its new apprenticeship programme.

The new apprenticeship programme is a vibrant and innovative programme that helps to prepare trainee nurse associates for caring roles across the health spectrum, and has been developed in conjunction with colleagues in KIITE, Nursing and Midwifery and our practice partners across the West Midlands region.

Keele has been shortlisted for:

• Educator of the Year - Professor Julie Green, Dean of Education within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs - Adam Goodwin, Adult Nursing student and Hospital Campus Officer
• Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year - Care, Share and Dare - Keele University Approach to Foundation Degree in Science (FDSc) Nursing Associate Programme

The awards highlight excellence and hard work across all specialities of nursing and seek to promote universities, lecturers, students, trusts and private organisations by bringing together the best of the best in the nursing community.

Dr Clare Corness-Parr, Director of Undergraduate Programmes within the school, said:

“The nomination for the Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year is a testament to the hard work that the academic and practice partners have undertaken together to be shortlisted for the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards. It is particularly pleasing, as this has been a new apprenticeship programme that Keele has developed in conjunction with our practice partners across the West Midlands region.

“Together colleagues have created a vibrant and innovative programme that helps to prepare trainee nurse associates for caring roles across the health spectrum.

“Students have access to the superb facilities that all students have on campus as well as an excellent range of high quality placements in acute and community settings. The diverse placement setting is one of the value-added aspects for students learning in practice. Collaborative partnership working has been a key feature to ensure that the programme meets employer expectations, so that students feel supported in what is a relatively new role in healthcare settings.”

This year is extra special for the school as it is the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

Professor Green, shortlisted for Educator of the Year, said:

“I am honoured to have been nominated and to be shortlisted as a finalist for the Student Nursing Times Educator of the Year Award. Having spent 18 years in nurse education here at the School of Nursing and Midwifery it comes at a time when my role is diversifying across the faculty, so it is very welcome. Having taught across pre- and post-registration in a range of roles, my most recent focus has been District Nurse Specialist Practice which is what I’ve been nominated for.

“Our programme here at Keele is transformational for our students - this nomination acknowledges my part in each student journey. I am so proud to be a finalist.”

Adult Nursing student Adam, shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs, has made a huge contribution to student life both on campus and within the Clinical Education Centre (CEC). He said:

“It's a great privilege to be nominated for the Nursing Times Award, even to be suggested by the University makes me feel honoured. I may only have a short amount of time left in my role, but I’m happy to be part of a big project which will hopefully improve student satisfaction even more at the CEC.”

The winners will be announced on Friday 24 April 2020.