A Cumbrian nurse has been shortlisted in this year's Student Nursing Times awards.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Practice Development Team have also been shortlisted.

NCIC has been shortlisted for providing the Best Student Experience for the Covid response and nurse Roseanna Watt has been nominated as Practice Supervisor of the Year.

Linda Turner, NCIC’s Quality Matron for Community Services, has been nominated by the University of Cumbria for the role she played in organising enrichment sessions for students on community placement at the height of the pandemic.

Linda said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this surprise nomination and be shortlisted for the Student Nursing Times Award.

“The work for which we have been shortlisted was made possible as a result of our Community based clinical teams pulling together, to ensure our students felt supported and still had the opportunity to experience a varied and rich learning placement, despite the challenges our teams and students faced due to the COVID Pandemic.

“I’m thrilled that the NCIC Placement Education Team are continuing to offer the Enrichment sessions model we developed, to enable all our current and future students to have the opportunity to learn more about the varied teams within NCIC and what they do.”

In the Practice Supervisor of the Year category, Roseanna Watt, known as Rosie, has been shortlisted.

Rosie qualified as a nurse in 2019 and started her practice educator training after six months.

Gemma Lumsdon, Practice Education Facilitator at NCIC, said: “Rosie has shown 100 per cent dedication to student education and support over the last 12 months, while working in a challenging environment.

“She is described as a friend, a teacher, a coach, a role model, approachable, understanding and a listening ear. She has responded to feedback to make improvements to create an inclusive and adaptable learning environment. She is always looking out for ways to further enhance learner experiences.

“This has directly improved student satisfaction and had led to the recruitment of four newly qualified nurses.”

Students have been greatly impressed with the training and support they were given during their time on placements in the pandemic.

One student said: "During my time on my first placement COVID19 was at a high peak, and I was unable to attend spoke placements due to infection control, the enrichment sessions offered during my second placement helped me learn about the diversity of the NHS services that are provided.”

And another student added: "These sessions are of great interest as they support our learning and give us more opportunity to see what the NHS is able to offer us and to see the learning opportunities available at NCIC.”

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