Surrey District Nurse Awarded National Prize

Published on: 28 Aug, 2019
Updated on: 29 Aug, 2019

Emma Budd, District Nurse and Joanne Bosanquet MBE, Queens Nurse.

District nurse Emma Budd has won the Philip Goodeve-Docker prize, awarded to the highest-achieving student at the University of Surrey.

Ms Budd, who works for Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, was presented with the award after completing her Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ), funded by Health Education England, topped up by the Trust and registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council.

The Queens Nursing Institute Philip Goodeve-Docker award is offered only 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 SPQ demonstrates higher levels of clinical decision-making and means such nurses are able to improve and monitor standards of care.

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

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

Ms Budd now plans to become a practice teacher to encourage more people to pursue careers in district nursing.