Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been highlighted as a centre of training excellence for health students, as both a student and a training specialist have been shortlisted for three separate national awards.
Sarah Booth is up for the titles of both ‘Mentor of the Year’ and ‘Educator of the Year’, and Zoe Ashworth is up for ‘Adult Student Nurse of the Year’ at the Student Nursing Times Awards, which celebrate the best of nurse training and support in the country.
Sarah has worked as a nurse in both community and hospital settings, before taking on the role as practice education facilitator within the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust education centre, where she has been for over 17 years. She has supported many hundreds of mentors and nursing students during this time. Sarah received nominations from a number of both students and colleagues for this year’s awards. She was praised for the ‘above and beyond’ approach she brings to the support she offers her students. One comment noted her ‘very empathetic approach…… one of the hardest working women I have ever met. To me, she is an inspiration.’
Zoe trained as a student in at Stepping Hill Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Christie hospitals, and is now working as a community district nurse in Stockport. She was nominated for her ‘outstanding, therapeutic approach’ to supporting and caring for patients, her ‘vibrant passion’ for nursing, and her ‘infectious drive and enthusiasm.’
The winning teams will be announced on 26th April.
Alison Lynch, Chief Nurse at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said, “Nurturing and supporting our student nurses is vitally important; these are our nurses of the future. I’m so pleased that both Sarah and Zoe have been shortlisted, representing both our marvellous students and the outstanding, dedicated staff who support them.”