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Finalists unveiled in the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2026
RCN Scotland is delighted to unveil the finalists in 2026 RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.
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These awards, now in their fourth year, celebrate the very best in Scottish nursing, shining a spotlight on excellence and honouring the unwavering dedication and outstanding care delivered by Scotland’s nursing professionals.
The categories reflect the breadth of nursing practice, recognising the vital contribution of nursing staff and the teams they work in. They also highlight innovation, leadership, and a commitment to continuous learning across the nursing community.
From hospitals to care homes, prisons to the military, these registered nurses, nursing support workers, nursing students, and nursing teams, are finalists who truly represent the #BestOfNursing across Scotland’s health and social care services.
From Shetland to the Borders, the Western Isles to Dundee, nominations poured in from every corner of Scotland — with powerful testaments to the passion, skill, and dedication that drives nursing excellence across the nation.
Commenting on the announcement of the finalists, Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland Board Chair, said:
"Our Awards are a defining moment in the nursing calendar — a time to celebrate everything that makes our profession extraordinary in Scotland. The incredible volume and quality of nominations speak to the nursing excellence Scotland has, even if they made the judges’ task of selecting finalists a formidable challenge. Every one of our finalists stands as a shining example of the dedication, compassion, and commitment that drive the very best of nursing care for the people of Scotland."
Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director, champions the awards, saying:
"This is our opportunity to acknowledge the excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment of Scotland’s nursing community. Reading the nominations and hearing the stories of exceptional care fills me with immense pride, in not only the profession I love, but also in every remarkable nominee. I hope every finalist — and everyone who was nominated — feels the deep gratitude and admiration we all share for the incredible work they do to improve lives across Scotland. Together, you are shaping the future of nursing and setting a standard of care that will inspire generations to come."
The winners of each category will be unveiled at our grand awards ceremony on 30 April at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The highly coveted overall RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2026 will be selected from the registered nurse winners across the eligible categories.
Our esteemed finalists are:
| Categories | Finalists |
| Adult Nursing Award | Gillian Phimister, Lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Dundee Frailty at Home (East), NHS Tayside Keri Van-Nuil, Senior Charge Nurse, Stroke, Rehab and Frailty, NHS Dumfries and Galloway Patricia Dow, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Head and Neck Outpatients, NHS Grampian |
| Care Home Nursing Award | Eileen Welch, Home Manager, Burnlea House, Largs, Pepperwood Care Lori Fisher, Service Quality Manager, BCG Cares, Perth Royston Care Home Nursing Team, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership |
| Children's Nursing and Midwifery Award | Caroline Porter, Diana Children's Nurse, Children's Hospices Across Scotland Fife School Nursing Service, NHS Fife Nicky Bridges, Former Associate Director for Outreach Services, Children's Hospices Across Scotland |
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Sponsored by Anderson Strathern |
Caroline Reid, Clinical Nurse Manager, Community and Specialist Nurse Teams, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, NHS Grampian Fiona Clark, Parkinson's Specialist Nurse, Simpson Day Clinic, NHS Tayside Mike Spall-Hancy, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Sexual Health & HIV), Chalmers Centre, , NHS Lothian |
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Inspiring Excellence - Nursing Innovation and Research Award Sponsored by Healthcare Improvement Scotland |
Daisy Sandeman, Clinical Nurse Manager – Advanced Practice, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian Inga Heyman, Associate Professor (Policing and Public Health), Edinburgh Napier University Tracy Downey, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| Learning Disability Nursing Award | Hannah Clark, Staff Nurse, The State Hospital, Lanark Nicola Braid, Senior Nurse for Learning Disabilities, NHS 24, Glasgow Susan Craig, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Respiratory and Learning Disability, Blythswood House, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| Learning in Practice Award | Karen Bacon, Clinical Nurse Educator/Charge Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, NHS Borders Laura Reid, Lead Practice Educator NHS Grampian and Professional Lead for North of Scotland NMAHP International Recruitment, NHS Grampian Vicky Burnett, Practice Educator, NHS Grampian |
| Mental Health Nursing Award | His Majesty's Prison and Young Offenders' Institute (HMYOI) Lillias Centre - Nursing Team, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit - Nursing Team, Carseview Centre, NHS Tayside Mental Health Unscheduled Care Assessment Hub, Woodland View Hospital, NHS Ayrshire & Arran |
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Sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University |
Connall Green, Nursing Student, Glasgow Caledonian University Katie Walker, Former Nursing Student (now working as a registered mental health nurse), Robert Gordon University Omar Arshad, Former Nursing Student (now working as a registered nurse), University of Dundee |
| Nursing Support Worker of the Year | Don Meegoda, Care Support Worker, Holy Rosary Care Home, Greenock, Little Sisters of the Poor Lynn Melville, Health Care Support Worker, Health Visiting Team, Airdrie Health Centre, NHS Lanarkshire Michelle Brownlee, Health Care Support Worker, ITU/Critical Care, Borders General Hospital, NHS Borders |
| Nursing Team of the Year | 215 Multirole Medical Regiment (Nursing Team), Royal Army Medical Service Prison Health Care Team, NHS Forth Valley Specialist Rehabilitation Unit, Stirling Health and Care Village, NHS Forth Valley |
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Sponsored by The Sunday Post |
Daniel Doyle, Staff Nurse / Volunteer Registered Nurse, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde & Glasgow Street Aid Emma-Jane Trayner, Remote Consultation Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Scottish Ambulance Service, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Jean Cairns, Practice Nurse, Arrochar Surgery, Argyll and Bute Margaret McLean, Community Staff Nurse, Airdrie Community Health Centre, NHS Lanarkshire |
For further insights into why these remarkable individuals have been shortlisted as exemplary representatives of nursing in Scotland, please visit our awards pages.
