The highest achieving academics and practitioners of nursing and midwifery in the north-east have been recognised for their efforts.
The Robert Gordon University’s school of nursing and midwifery in Aberdeen presented the accolades last week, including a new mental health nursing prize created in memory of a senior RGU lecturer who died last year.
The Dr Andrew McKie Memorial Quaich was donated to the university by the doctor’s family, and will be awarded every year to those that go above and beyond in the field of mental health.
The first recipient of the honour was Alan Rucroft from Boddam, one of Dr McKie’s students of mental health nursing.
The 30-year-old said: “I was very surprised to receive the award but also very proud. Andy was a fantastic lecturer and person.
“I was glad to have the chance to be taught by him and have his interest in mental illness and ethics inspire me.”
Other prizes awarded at the ceremony included Mentor of the Year, the Jennie Parry Prize for Clinical and Academic Excellence and the Honourable Lady Bannatyne Prize for students in the field of Children and Young People’s Nursing.
Senior NHS Grampian staff nurse Tanya Laurenson was named best mentor, after being nominated by RGU student Kathryn Robertson while she was on a placement at the hospital.
Ms Laurenson, 31, from Aberdeen, said she was “delighted to scoop the prize.
She said: “As well as mentoring Kathryn during the placement I was also progressing in my career to senior staff nurse.
“Although there were different challenges adapting to my new role, it was important to remain focused on the educational development of our future nurses and I’m very pleased I’ve been able to play my part in that.”
The Jennie Parry Prize for Clinical and Academic Excellence was awarded to mental health nurse Rob Bradley.
Mr Bradley, 36, who works as a staff nurse at Royal Cornhill Hospital, said: “I came into nursing at a crossroads in my life.
“It has given me focus, self-confidence and fufilment and I’m proud to have been able to repay some of that.”