University News Last updated 05 March 2014
Two nursing students and a post registration nursing course at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Health have been shortlisted for the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards 2014.
The national competition, now in its third year, aims to celebrate the drive and commitment of students and those who go the extra mile.
25 year old Ayaz Mahmood from Alum Rock, Birmingham, has been shortlisted in the Student Nurse of the Year, Mental Health category. Ayaz, a final year student studying on the Mental Health BSc nursing programme, is an ambassador for mental health care in his community having recently become a board member for St. Margaret’s Community Trust in Ward End, where he is working on a mental health awareness campaign aimed at his local community.
25 year old Military Mental Health Nursing student Jessica Byrne from Woodford, Northamptonshire has also been shortlisted for the Mental Health Nurse category. A final year student, Jessica balances the demands of military and academic life. An avid fundraiser, she has completed numerous charity events throughout her time at university, including Birmingham and Liverpool marathons, various half marathons and cycling and running as part of a team taking part in the Birmingham to Camp Bastion fundraiser - a charity marathon replicating the distance wounded troops fly from Field Hospital Camp Bastion, Afghanistan to Birmingham’s military hospital.
In addition to the individual student awards, the faculty's Dimensions in Health Care programme has also been shortlisted in the Nurse Education Provider of the Year (post registration) category. This category aims to recognise institutions that offer courses to develop the leadership, management and clinical skills of qualified nurses.
The Dimensions in Health Care programme at Birmingham City University offers a diverse range of pathways for returning post registration nursing students from Adult Critical Care to Tissue Viability. These modular awards are individually tailored to nurture and develop qualified nurses.
Programme Director, Jane Leaver said, “We are delighted that the Dimensions in Healthcare programme has been shortlisted. The programme prides itself on its ability to provide a high quality learning environment that is both flexible and clinically focused in order to meet the needs of students and employers alike.”
Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health, Louise Toner said: “The faculty is thrilled with these nominations. Jessica and Ayaz follow on from the success of our students at last year’s awards and we wish them every success.
“The nomination for Education Provider of the Year (post registration) is a reflection of how the Dimensions team and the faculty overall work closely with our healthcare provider partners. This ensures that our provision is fit for purpose for the personal and professional development of the healthcare workforce, again we wish them every success.”
The winners of this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards will be announced at an awards lunch on Wednesday 1 May at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
For further information on the Dimensions in Health Care programme and other health care courses at Birmingham City University, please visit www.bcu.ac.uk/health.