University News Last updated 24 March 2014
A nursing student from Birmingham City University has been announced as the winner of a prestigious scholarship award.
Second year learning disability nursing student, Joshua Kernohan, has been awarded this year's Outstanding Student Nurse award by the Cavell Nurses' Trust.
The Cavell Nurses' Trust scholarship scheme aims to recognise exceptional student nurses and midwives from across the UK, giving students the opportunity to win one of five scholarship prize funds to be used for placements either abroad or in the UK.
Finalists were chosen by a panel of judges, comprising of leading nurses and midwives, including Professor Lesley Page, President of the Royal College of Midwives.
"To be chosen as the Outstanding Student Nurse all seems a bit unbelievable at the moment," said Joshua. "I've met many innovative learning disability nurses during my training and it's a very inspiring and supportive community which prompted me to enter the awards."
Joshua, aged 24, from Dudley, came to nursing after working from the age of 16 with children and young people with learning disabilities and autism. He held a number of roles during this time, including managing a service providing palliative care to terminally ill young people.
"I worked alongside nurses who had so much passion for what they were doing and I could see how they used their knowledge to make a difference to the people they were caring for. That really inspired me and took me in the direction of learning disability nursing."
Joshua, who will qualify in April 2015, is still developing his scholarship travel plans, with one idea being to visit a number of European countries, embracing the process of moving people with learning disabilities out of long stay hospitals and into the community.
"In terms of my nursing education it would be important for me to see those challenges and to understand more about the dramatic impact that move has on patients. That's the history of many people with learning disabilities in this country and it would help me have a greater understanding of the problems they faced."
Fellow nursing students Jessica Byrne and Laura Fitzgerald were also shortlisted for this year's awards, with Laura announced as runner up in the Outstanding Student Nurse category, winning a laptop or tablet computer to assist her with her studies.
Laura said: "Entering the awards has given me a massive boost in confidence in my nursing skills. I am shocked but hugely flattered to be awarded runner up - there are so many amazing students on my course, let alone nationally."
Alan Finnegan, Professor of Nursing at Birmingham City University, said: "These prestigious awards recognise the future leaders of tomorrow so we are delighted that Birmingham City University students have been recognised in this way. It is great to see their hard work and competencies in the fields of care and compassion identified and rewarded. Well done to all of our students."
Further information on nursing and other health care courses at Birmingham City University