Published on 27 October 2020
Our University has been shortlisted once again in this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards (SNTA) set to be held today.
We have been named as finalists in the following categories:
- Best Student Experience
- Best Pre-Reg provider
- Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs – Stacy Humphrey.
Now in their ninth year, the SNTA are the only national awards to celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education.
The winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.
Although the University is a relative newcomer to the delivery of adult pre-registration nursing programmes, with the first cohort starting in 2016, it has already proved to be up there with the best for quality of teaching and exceptional students, consistently winning or being named finalists in the awards year on year.
Sue Brent, Head of the Sunderland School of Nursing, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be shortlisted once again in these awards. It’s huge recognition for all the hard work the staff and students have contributed since we launched the School of Nursing just four years ago. We continue to go from strength to strength.
“Our dedicated teaching team provides pastoral care to students which goes above and beyond what is expected. We continue our commitment to excellence and delivering highly quality, career ready graduates with the knowledge and training to make a tangible difference to patient care.
“Our school is growing; we’re developing relationships with new health partnerships and continuing to invest in our facilities and programme. We recently received a £2.5m donation from philanthropist Helen McArdle CBE - the largest contribution ever received by the University, benefitting teaching and research in nursing and care. Through scholarships and student prizes, Helen’s donation is supporting and celebrating our trainee nurses.”
It’s comes as no surprise to her peers that Stacy Humphrey is a SNTA finalist, having contributed a huge amount not only to the nursing programme and supporting her peers but also to the University as a whole.
Now working as a full-time nurse, some of her notable achievements to date include:
- Setting up ‘School Co-ordinator’ drop in sessions with the Students' Union in an attempt to encourage students to voice their opinions in a non-challenging environment.
- Volunteering as head coach at Sunderland Special Olympics for three years.
- Being a founding member and president of the University of Sunderland’s Nursing Society which won the best learning society at the Students' Union awards 2019 under her leadership.
- Being shortlisted as a finalist at the National Student Congress Award 2019 for Outstanding Student Nurse.
On discovering she had been shorted in the Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs, category, Stacey, age 22, from Sunderland, said: “I’m really excited to be shortlisted for this award, and really grateful for all the opportunities and support I have had over the last three years.”
Simone Bedford, Head of the Department of Nursing (Post-Graduate Nursing), said: “Stacy has grown into a superb nurse. Not only excelling in her studies but she has also become the School Co-ordinator and Student representative on the University’s Board of Governors.
“Undertaking one of these roles would demonstrate an outstanding contribution to student affairs, but doing both of them enables Stacy to have a student voice at the highest level. In addition to these two roles, Stacy was also Chair of the Nursing Society and was an integral part of the initiation of the Society.
“She has supported less able students to achieve their goals, she is an inspiration and a positive role model to her peers. In my 24-year career in nursing and having worked in the NHS, RAF and four universities, I have never seen such a committed, caring, compassionate student.”
The University is also nominated in two other categories:
Nurse Education Provider of the Year
The move to an all-degree profession calls for universities to undertake significant work in adapting their courses to reflect the changing demands of the syllabus. This award will recognise those universities that offer high standards of academic and practical teaching, and excellent resources.
Student Experience
This award seeks to recognise universities and providers of nurse education that are putting an emphasis on the overall student experience. This focus ensures students are supported in a learning community that is nurturing of the whole person as well as being conducive to encouraging excellence in learning and sharing best practice. Student experience is even more relevant with the planned removal of the bursary and the cutting of CPD funding post-registration has raised students’ expectations of their education provider. This will give students more choice about where and how they study.