We know how great our nursing students are and want you to get the recognition you deserve!
The national Student Nursing Times Awards are open for applications and we want to encourage as many of you as possible to apply!
Why apply?
Winning a Student Nursing Times award not only gives you recognition but there are other benefits:
- Be part of an elite crowd of award winners: join the Student Nursing Times Awards winners' club
- Give your CV a boost: set yourself apart from the crowd and open yourself up to career opportunities – some students receive job offers from the event
- Recognise your potential: everyone needs validation at times and what better confirmation than a Student Nursing Times award?
- Make a name for yourself: network with important figures in the nursing community and take hold of your future career path
- Get the job you really want: organisations actively seek new team members that are recognised at these awards, don’t be surprised to get job offers if you become a finalist!
- Free Nursing Times subscription: individual award winners will also receive a year's free subscription to Nursing Times.
What are the judges looking for?
BU Senior Lecturer Claire Nadaf and Associate Professor Vanessa Heaslip are both judges for the awards and here they provide their advice around what the judges are looking for:
- Be unique – whatever category you decide to enter, really think about why you are special and unique. What stands you apart from the next student nurse? How are you looking to the future in your nursing career? What is your unique story?
- Provide evidence – you must show evidence of the impact that you have made - how have you made a difference to patients, relatives or your colleagues? Can you show how innovative you are? How you have gone above and beyond the expected? When you submit your application, you can attach documents, but don’t attach too many as the judges will not be able to read everything, be succinct but consider including audit data, cost analyses, patient experience survey results, documentation you have designed or anything else that will help the judges to understand the impact of your work
- It’s all about nursing – Most of the judges are nurses and all feel very passionate about the nursing profession, we want to see the values of nursing embedded in your entry as well as your motivation and commitment towards providing excellent care.
- Read the criteria – really consider the criteria when you write your entry, don’t waffle – keep it focused and answer the questions thoroughly but make sure that you cover all of the criteria in the category. Avoid repeating yourself. This is the first impression we get of you, so make it a good one to be shortlisted.
- Ensure accuracy: make sure you proof-read your entry so it looks like you have taken time and care with it. Ask someone else, such as a colleague, friend or manager, to look through your entry before you hit submit. It can be helpful to ask someone who was not directly involved in the work you are entering, as like the judges, they will not have detailed knowledge so they could suggest ways to clarify your entry.
- If you get shortlisted – really think about your presentation, don’t just produce a boring PowerPoint, get creative and keep the judges engaged in your short slot to present to them. Have you got items you can share with them, create videos, keep it snappy and do something so that they remember you. Your motivation and passion really need to shine through here. Don’t worry about being nervous as the judges will take this into account…and don’t forget to smile!
You can also read more hints and tips on submitting an application on the website.
So what are you waiting for? Apply now.
