RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards
Several NHS Forth Valley nurses are among the finalists in the first RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.
The awards shine a spotlight on the best of nursing – to recognise, highlight and celebrate the dedication and outstanding professional care of nursing staff across Scotland.
The 12 categories cover the nursing specialities as well as recognising the vital role of nursing support workers, wider nursing teams and student nurses and the innovation, leadership and support for learning that they display.
Nominations were encouraged from nursing staff across health and social care from those working in the NHS, to GP practices, care homes
Laura Mccann
(Learning Disability Nursing Award) Community Learning Disability Senior Charge Nurse, Falkirk Learning Disability Team, NHS FV
Described by her team, in the nicest possible way, as infectious, Laura’s nomination centres around a work programme she leads to support people with a learning disability to develop healthy relationships – an ability she says her patients have often been denied. She developed an eight-week programme on cyber safety and is currently working with her team and the wider multi-disciplinary team to develop support for those who experience gender-based violence. One of Laura’s key achievements is ensuring the team can now provide a consistent and equitable service across her locality. Laura is keen to promote LD nursing and is working with universities to support practice placements. Her goal is to eventually go into high schools to promote LD nursing, and nursing in general, as a career choice. and the third sector.
Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland board chair, said:“the judges were blown away by the number and calibre of the nominations we received. All our finalists, no matter the final outcome, demonstrate how, day in and day out, nursing staff are going the extra mile to provide high-quality nursing care for the people of Scotland.”
“The winners of each award will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in June at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The overall RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Award will be selected from the registered nurse winners from the eligible categories.”
The finalists from NHS Forth Valley are:
Linda Mcauslan
(Leadership Award) Lead Nurse Psychological Therapies / APTS Manager, Adult Psychological Therapies Service, NHS FV
Described by her colleagues as an exemplary leader, Linda’s leadership style is “charged with positive focus and energy”, while maintaining sensitivity to the team’s needs, alongside her“uncanny ability to steady the ship.”linda is Lead Nurse in the redevelopment of adult psychological therapies. Her team have commended Linda on her commitment to wellbeing, especially through the pandemic, which led to reduced sickness absence and zero attrition from the team. Linda’s ethos of good mentorship is described as the bedrock of future succession planning, ensuring the team is fit for the future.
Janet Wilson
(Nursing Support Worker of the Year Award) Nursing Assistant, Lochview Hospital, NHS Forth Valley
Described by colleagues as dedicated and professional, for 20 years Janet has worked in the learning disability service of Loch View Hospital, and her senior charge nurse says she is an integral part of the service – leading the way with care and compassion. Always advocating for those under her care, Janet strives to ensure they are recognised as people and not medical or physical conditions. She has played an important part in developing a bespoke approach to care for an individual with autism who requires seclusion due to challenging behaviour, developing and incorporating daily contact for him, a long process due to the individual’s diagnosis and his challenges to engage with others. Janet is also described as a supportive presence on site, not only for her patients but also for family carers and her colleagues.
Georgie Mclachlan
(Nursing Student of the Year Award) Former Student (Now working as Community Psychiatric Nurse), Stirling University
Described by her practice learning supervisor as a dedicated student, while on placement at Livilands Resource Centre, Georgie used her initiative to seek quality improvement opportunities to enhance patient care. She has also been involved in a pilot for the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Pathway, As the main contact Georgie has led individual interactions with the patient, demonstrating holistic care with a full understanding of all aspects of a patient’s life. Colleagues applaud her understanding of the changing role on the community psychiatric nurse in working with people with complex and enduring mental health problems and her pride in her chosen the career.