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Stories of achievement that will inspire others
Nursing Standard's annual awards not only demonstrate the best the profession has to offer, they can help boost the winners' and commendees' careers. A high-profile example is David Benton, who won the management category back in 1993 and is now chief executive of the International Council of Nurses.
Other former winners tell their stories this week. They are inspiring in themselves, and we hope their example will prompt others to enter this year's awards. There are 13 categories, including the inaugural Florence Nightingale Foundation Chairman's Award for Compassionate Care. Details of how to enter are at www.nurseawards.co.uk
Among those we feature in this issue is Grace Vanterpool, a diabetes nurse consultant who was named nurse of the year in 2006 in recognition of her innovative approach to engaging patients from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. All of England's strategic health authorities asked her to share her work with them, she was invited to make a presentation at the House of Lords and was made an MBE.
This year's judging panel is particularly keen to receive more applications from nurses who, like Ms Vanterpool, are from BME backgrounds, because relatively few have been honoured in recent years. Even more importantly, the expert panel wants to hear from all nurses who have delivered outstanding care so that Nursing Standard can ensure they receive the recognition they deserve.
One of the categories is for students, whose experience in training appears to be improving. A survey conducted by the RCN in conjunction with Nursing Standard found that 82 per cent rated their course as excellent or good, while three quarters were similarly satisfied with the quality of teaching they received in the classroom.
Most impressive of all is the finding that 86 per cent of respondents thought highly of their practice placements. Given the strain that nurses and healthcare assistants are under, it would be understandable if students were being used as extra pairs of hands and given little supervision. It is reassuring to learn that this is far from the case.
Editorial | September 26 2012 | Volume 27 No 4
Our mission
Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing.
It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses' and healthcare assistants' career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor's employing organisation unless specifically stated.
The RCN Publishing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, the world's largest organisation for nurses. RCN Publishing produces one weekly, eight monthly and two quarterly nursing publications. Nursing Standard, the flagship journal, is the UK's biggest selling weekly for nursing. It is produced by RCN Publishing Company along with a suite of specialist nursing journals - Cancer Nursing Practice, Mental Health Practice, Learning Disability Practice, Nursing Children and Young People, Nursing Management, Emergency Nurse, Nursing Older People, Nurse Researcher and Primary Health Care. RCN Publishing Company also produce the RCN Bulletin, a major source of up-to-the-minute information for RCN members in all specialities, grades and working environments. With the latest nurse vacancies from trusts nationwide, it has become the most cost-effective nurse recruitment magazine available.