Adult Nursing Award

Adult nurses can be found working with adults of all ages across health and care settings from hospital awards, outpatient units, patients’ homes, general practice and clinics.

Open to registered nurses working in adult services. This award aims to recognise those who have succeeded in raising standards of care for their patients and service users and have made an outstanding contribution to the care of adults.  

A registered adult nurse working in a clinical role or managing clinical services within adult services in Scotland.

The nominee should clearly demonstrate:

• a commitment to person-centred care, innovation and delivering high quality services that make a difference to the people receiving care
• the positive impact of their work for patients, clients, families and colleagues
• the use of a credible evidence base and or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
• how their work contributes to the delivery of local and national policy and strategy within health and social care.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards, please get in touch by emailing scotlandnurseawards@rcn.org.uk

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Senior Addiction Nurse
North East Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, Glasgow

John, an inspirational figure in addiction services, has significantly contributed to improving and expanding services, particularly in alcohol and opiate replacement treatments. He enthusiastically embraced the introduction of Buvidal, a novel treatment, and played a pivotal role in disseminating information and support to clients, families, and other stakeholders. The number of clients utilising Buvidal has grown substantially under his guidance, with regular clinics now serving over 440 individuals. By advocating for informed decision-making, John has empowered clients to pursue personal growth and development, leading to tangible benefits such as increased employment, education and community integration. Despite initial challenges, interventions like psychosocial support have helped overcome barriers, resulting in clients reporting improvements in various aspects of their lives, including physical and mental health. John's exemplary professionalism and the success of Buvidal has garnered interest from GP surgeries and pharmacies, with potential expansions into shared care services and ongoing pilot programmes.

In-Reach District Nurse
Inverclyde HSCP

Margaret, In Reach District Charge Nurse at Inverclyde Community/Inverclyde Royal Hospital, pioneered the In Reach initiative eight years ago. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between primary and secondary care. It facilitates safe and effective discharges from hospital to home, particularly focusing on general community nursing needs and complex palliative care discharges. Margaret meticulously assesses patients, completes nursing assessments and care plans, liaises with multiple stakeholders, and advocates for patients' wishes. Working tirelessly, Margaret overcomes challenges such as a heavy workload and extensive coordination among various teams. Her efforts significantly improve patient experiences, health outcomes, and nursing practice, ensuring seamless transitions, and empowering patients and families in the discharge planning process. Despite resource constraints, Margaret aspires to expand the In Reach services in the future to widen access and enhance palliative care from hospital to home.

Parkinson's Nurse Specialist
NHS Highland - North Highland Area

Sharon, the sole Parkinson's Disease Nurse in NHS Highland, provides comprehensive support to over 550 patients across various settings. Despite limited resources, she single-handedly fulfils her role, ensuring patients receive optimal care. Sharon's expertise extends to educating health care professionals and advocating for patients, even during times of consultant shortages. Her dedication is evident through joint clinics, personalised patient reviews, and continuous support beyond clinic hours. Participation in audits showcases the effectiveness of her interventions, including the implementation of a non-motor questionnaire to improve symptom management. Sharon's impact is reflected in the gratitude expressed by patients and their families over her more than 20-year tenure, highlighting her invaluable contribution to Parkinson's disease care in the region.

Clinical Nurse Manager, Raigmore Hospital, NHS Highland

Described by her colleagues as energetic, inspirational and ‘one of the best nurses I’ve ever worked with’, at the time of nominations, Amy led the respiratory ward at Raigmore Hospital before recently becoming Assistant Divisional Nurse Manager. Amy elevates those around her to do their best and is noted to have been instrumental in the development of the future nursing workforce in NHS Highland. She prides herself on leading by example, setting evidence-based standards to ensure care is driven by what matters to the patient and their families. Amy led the way in developing a partnership with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland which meant that readmissions dropped from 20% to 8% benefitting both patients and the ward. Amy meets the challenge of caring across a wide geography head on, liaising directly with GP’s to ensure equality of access. In her new role, Amy newest challenge was developing an infectious disease specialist team, appointing and nurturing staff to do what’s best for patients. With attracting people to the profession difficult in the current climate, Amy is determined to inspire new students and to encourage people to return to nursing.