WELS student nominated for Royal College of Nursing award

RCN Nursing Awards 2022 finalist, Jade Wareham

A WELS student has been nominated for a prestigious Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Student Award.

Jade Wareham, who is in her second year of study on the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship while also working for Isle of Wight NHS Trust, is one of just five trainees to make the shortlist.

The recognition comes following Jade’s work on the Sharing Student Healthcare Initiative for Neurodiversity and Equality (SSHINE), which she co-founded after being diagnosed with dyslexia in her late 20s.

The RCN Nursing Awards showcase the very best of nursing and highlight the diversity of skills and innovation within the profession. The judges were impressed by how Jade is “promoting and creating resources that inspire students with neurodivergence to express their needs and better support themselves during their placements and academic studies”.

Jade said of the news:
“To be shortlisted for the RCN Nursing Student Award has overwhelmed me with joy – it’s something I never thought would be possible for me... I set out to advocate for students who are in positions like myself. I’m so grateful for this recognition and the opportunity to showcase the developments with the judging panel.”

At the OU, Dr Rebecca Garcia and Nerys Bolton, Programmer Leaders for BSc (Hons) Nursing, are among Jade’s well-wishers:
“We are delighted to hear that Jade has been nominated for the RCN Nursing Awards 2022. Jade’s contribution helps students empower their learning opportunities. We wish her the very best of luck in the awards.”

Janet Webb, Associate Head of School for Nursing and Health Professions at the OU, added:
“Jade is a high achieving student and has made a significant contribution to nursing care. She is a credit to the field of adult nursing, to the University and to her employer. We wholly support this nomination.”

The 2022 RCN Nursing Awards are set to take place on Thursday 6 October, at a live ceremony in London.
Find out more about the 2022 Awards on the RCN website.