District nurse awarded national prize | News

A District Nurse has been presented with a prestigious national award recognising her as a top performing student.

Emma Budd, who works for the Trust has received the Philip Goodeve-Docker prize, which is awarded to the highest achieving student at the University of Surrey.

She received the award after completing her Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ), which was funded by Health Education England, topped up by the Trust and registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council.

This Queens Nursing Institute Philip Goodeve-Docker award is only offered to the top performing students of the district nursing programme in universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Community nurses from the Trusts’ Adult Community Health Services, who would like to undertake the Specialist Practitioner programme to become District Nurses, are supported by internal Practice Teachers.

The Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) demonstrates higher levels of clinical decision making and means they are able to improve and monitor standards of care.

Emma said: “During my time on the SPQ my practice teacher was completely supportive of me and helped me reach my potential.

“I feel so lucky to have been given this opportunity to progress my career and I am extremely passionate about raising the role of district nurses.

“It is a complete privilege to be invited into patients’ home to care for them and to provide support to their families.”

Jan Grey, Clinical Lead for Guildford & Waverley Community Nursing Services said: “Emma is a highly valued member of the community nursing team and is passionate about the role of District Nursing in Community Nursing.

“This award is a brilliant recognition of the hard work and effort that Emma has put into her training and is a great honour.

“Adult Community Health Services are proud to offer training and progression to our staff and we are delighted to say that we have another four funded places to start in September.”

Emma is now looking to become a Practice Teacher herself and to encourage more people to pursue careers in district nursing.