National nursing awards for Teesside academic and student

Prestigious national nursing awards have been won by a Teesside University academic and student.

Mark Wheatley, senior lecturer in the University’s nursing skills development team and student Beccy Phillips were shortlisted for accolades in the inaugural Student Nursing Times Awards 2012.

And now Mark has been named Lecturer of the Year, while Beccy is Student Nurse of the Year: Adult. The award winners were announced at a ceremony in London, where Teesside was the only university to win two awards.

Mark, who has been teaching at Teesside University for four years, said: 'I am absolutely thrilled, delighted and very proud to have won this award. To be acknowledged for the work that you do makes it all worthwhile.'

The former district nurse, who worked in a hospital setting before moving into teaching, added: 'The fact that the nomination and win is as a result of support from student nurses means a great deal to me. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the University’s School of Health & Social Care’s Dean Paul Keane and subject leader Lesley Inayatullah for their continued support. It’s also brilliant that we were the only university to come away with two awards.'

Beccy, 38, from Hartlepool, is completing the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Studies. A change in family circumstances led Beccy to retrain and embark on her ideal career path. She has now secured a job working in elderly care in Hartlepool.

Beccy said: 'Nursing is something I’d always wanted to do and I’m honoured and thrilled to receive this award.

'As I’d been away from education for so long I had to complete an access course before progressing to the degree. My training has been fantastic and a really positive experience. I cannot imagine doing anything else now.

'It’s an excellent course with outstanding support from lecturers, in particular Kay Scott and Rachel Morris. It has equipped me very well, both for placements as a student and the work I’ll be doing once qualified.

'I want to thank Teesside University and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, which both played a part in helping me win this award and enabled me to surpass any expectations I ever could have had for myself when embarking on a career as a nurse. It’s a real honour.'

Among academic colleagues and student nurses who nominated Mark was Professor Paul Keane, OBE, Dean of the University’s School of Health & Social Care.

Professor Keane, said: 'We are delighted that Mark has achieved this award, having shown that his innovation and enthusiasm in learning and teaching continues to inspire our nurses of the future.

'Our congratulations also go to Beccy for winning her award and excelling in her nursing studies as well as being a good role model for students who wish to enter a professional career in health. We wish her the very best in her professional career.'

Sue Smith, director of nursing, patient safety and quality at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: 'I am extremely proud of Beccy’s achievement. She has a great future ahead of her and we’re delighted that she is going to continue to be part of our nursing team.'

Jenni Middleton, editor of the Nursing Times and Student Nursing Times, said: 'Teesside has been hugely successful in winning two of the most competitive categories and the judges had an extremely tough job, but they were unanimous in their selection of Mark.

'The judges felt he was a really inspiring person and had a wisdom and lovely way of talking about his chosen profession. What made Beccy stand out was the mature and thoughtful way that she came across, being very patient-focused, academically able and altruistic, a great nurse with compassion, charisma and personality.'

Lesley Inayatullah, principal lecturer Nursing Skills Development Team, said: 'This prestigious award has formally acknowledged Mark's passion for nursing along with his natural talents and wide ranging expertise, which inspires his teaching and has been recognised and appreciated by both his colleagues and students over the last four years. At the heart of Mark's role as a lecturer is an unprecedented commitment to delivering the highest quality teaching and support for students which this award has recognised.'

---

The list of winners in the Student Nursing Times Awards 2012