Tributes to caring staff as four finalists announced for Nurse Of The Year award
Winner to be revealed at ceremony
Four big-hearted finalists have been chosen for The Sunday Post’s People’s Choice Nurse Of The Year.
The four were chosen from a list of nominees whose work and devotion to nursing showcased unwavering devotion to patients. Nominations for The Sunday Post’s People’s Choice award in the Royal College of Nursing Scotland’s Awards included Denise Harrison, a practice nurse at Brechin Health Centre, who was nominated for her exceptional dedication during floods in the town in Angus.
She worked to provide medical care to displaced patients even on her days off and despite her own responsibilities at home, including taking care of her three sons after the death of her husband.
She assisted patients forced to evacuate their homes, provided care in hotels, and organised support services such as laundering clothes and setting up a bereavement cafe for those struggling with loss.
Also nominated is Derek Jolly, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner who works for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
He has more than 35 years of experience, specialising in children’s palliative care for the past 11 years. He has been instrumental in establishing an advanced nurse practitioner team in children’s hospices, providing care for extremely ill children and young people.
His role involves working in hospitals, hospice settings and homes, ensuring families can spend quality time with their children facing life-limiting conditions.
Outside of his NHS role, Derek serves as a mentor for trainee practitioners and provides outreach support and education to medical staff and nurses across Scotland.
The third finalist is Jill Shedden, a Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. She has been nominated for going above and beyond to support patients facing the challenges of head and neck cancer, which can involve face-changing surgery, difficulty in eating, and adjusting to breathing with a tracheostomy. Her dedication extends to implementing measures to reduce infection risk for patients undergoing treatment. Surgical neonatal liaison nurse Margaret Reeves from the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, is the final nominee for the award. Known as Maggi to friends, she established a programme at Glasgow Queen Elizabeth University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), allowing babies to complete their recovery at home with support from parents and community nurses. Maggi, retiring after 41 years, plans to return to the NICU. Her career spanned various hospitals, and she played a crucial role in treating babies with abdominal defects, inspiring parents to pursue nursing careers.
The awards spotlight excellence in Scottish nursing acknowledging, highlighting and celebrating the unwavering commitment and exceptional professional care.
The categories acknowledge the contributions of registered nurses, nursing support workers, broader nursing teams and nursing students. Nominations were encouraged from all corners of health and social care. 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 nominated, feels the love and appreciation people have for the work they do.” The winner will be announced at the annual awards on May 23.