Student nurse at UCLan has been nominated for a national award

A student nurse studying at UCLan has made it into the final shortlist of the Royal College of Nursing Awards (RCNi), which celebrates excellence and innovation across the nursing profession.

Tanya Marlow, 26, is one of five finalists to be shortlisted for the prestigious Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award which recognises student nurses who are patient focused, use initiative and have strong leadership skills in order to bring about change.

The Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award has attracted more than 600 entrants from around the country, and Tanya made it into the final after impressing judges with her presentation about sharing skills related to nasogastric feeding; a process that allows a person to be fed through a tube inserted up the nose.

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Tanya, who is now in her third year of study, has also worked with first year students to demonstrate how to insert the tube, in order for them to feel more confident going onto placement and learning about it.

Tanya said: “I worked with 40 students in the workshop and got some great feedback.

“I think peer-to-peer education plays an important role in nursing training as it’s a profession that is constantly changing.

“I am ecstatic about making the final five and am looking forward to the awards evening. I feel that even just being nominated is recognition for all the voluntary work that I do.”

Tanya also helps out at Health Melas, takes teddy bear clinics into schools and nurseries, is an outreach officer at local schools and colleges and is a sexual health volunteer on the University campus.

Alongside her studies she has also volunteered at a Sri Lankan hospital on placement to experience health care in a different environment, and will be visiting Kenya on a student trip to raise awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM) among young people.

The winner of the Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award will be announced at the annual RCNi Nurse Awards 2017 on 5 May in Westminster.

Prizes for the Awards will be given out across 14 categories covering a wide range of specialties such as learning disability nursing, child health, cancer nursing, mental health and nursing older people.

Do you know Tanya? What do you think about the RCNi final shortlist? Let us know in the comments below