Catherine McGinty, 21 Mar
Derry nursing student April Canning has been nominated for the ‘Most
Inspirational Nurse of the Year’ accolade in the prestigious Student
Nursing Times Awards 2024.
Previously the recipient of the NI Allstate Convocation Student of the
Year award, the Ulster University, Magee student will be attending the
“glittering live ceremony” in London in April, with husband Paddy and
some of her lecturers.
The Student Nursing Times Awards bring together the nursing and
midwifery community to “shine a light on the brightest talent making
their way into the profession”.
“Highlighting excellence in all specialties of student nursing, the
awards also provide the opportunity to congratulate the lecturers,
practice supervisors, universities, trusts and private organisations
providing the best support for student nurses during their studies.”
Speaking to Derry News about her nomination, April revealed she had
been nominated for a Student Nursing Times Award by her lecturers.
A modest April added: “I am absolutely delighted. I can’t believe I
have been nominated, especially from such a large pool of people. I had
to travel to London last Friday for an interview with the panel.”
April said she had come “late into nursing”.
She added: “I am in a class with people who are a lot younger than me.
I had my children when I was young. By the time I was 19, I was married
with four youngsters - Reece, Brandon Grace and Isobel.
“I had children with additional needs as well, which made life a lot
harder but I had always wanted to work in healthcare. I was always a
carer in the community, in nursing homes. But I had to wait until the
children got that bit older so I could go back to school.
“I had to fight for everything. I had to go back to the Tech (North
West Regional College) first because I didn’t have the A’ Levels to get
into university. I did the access course there.
“Initially nursing was harder than I thought it would be. It is a
struggle with placements and school work and ePad - an online
portfolio we have to complete while we are on placement.
“It was overwhelming to begin with trying to settle into the nursing
course but luckily the lecturers were amazing. They are there whenever
you need them, which makes things a lot easier,” said April.
Having completed her last day in the university classroom last week,
April is going on her final two placements from April 15 - in health
visiting and in Altnagelvin.
“I just have the university’s ‘Disaster Day’ to get through first,” she
said. “Once a year, Ulster University hosts a day when the PSNI and the
Fire Service come in and set up different scenarios all over the
university - disasters, road traffic collisions, plane crashes - and
the Third Year students are assessed on how they respond medically.
“There are actors involved all there pretending they are hurt. We have
to come in not knowing what situations we are going to be faced with.
“ We don’t have a clue what the scenario is until we are there and they
assess us.”
April thought she was nominated for the Student Nursing Times Award
because of her volunteering work.
[IDNM_10-07-23_April_Canning_%282%29-1688749075055.jpg--_this_is_someth
ing_i_have_always_wanted____award_winning_derry_student_april_canning.j
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“This is something I have always wanted” - Award-winning Derry student
April Canning
“It's nerve-wracking being thrown in at the deep end and they don't
mollycoddle you because you're there to learn”
“I am very active within the university,” she said. “I am a counsellor
for students with caring responsibilities.
“I am also a student ambassador, a course rep and a class rep. I also
volunteer outside University with a charity called ‘Look Good, Feel
Better’, which operates from the Macmillan centre. It is for cancer to
help them restore their image with skincare and makeup while they are
going through treatment or afterwards,” said April.
The Student Nursing Times Awards take place on Friday, April 26 at the
JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane. The city will
have its fingers crossed for April.