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RCN Nurse of the Year 2020 revealed at virtual ceremony

Innovative nurse set up a project to support and educate young people at risk of knife crime

Kimberley Hackett - @kj_hackett
Posted 08 October 2020 - 22:00

Innovative nurse set up a project to support and educate young people at risk of knife crime

RCN Nurse of the Year 2020 Ana Waddington

Ana Waddington has been named the RCN Nurse of the Year 2020 for her work helping young people deal with the impact of youth violence.

The announcement was made this evening as part of the RCNi Nurse Awards 2020 ceremony, held virtually this year for the first time.

Helping those at risk from violent crime

The emergency department sister at the Royal London Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, was named the winner of our Innovations in Your Specialty category earlier this week.

RELATED: Watch the virtual ceremony

Ms Waddington was recognised for her work in setting up YourStance, a project established in 2018 to support and educate young people who are at risk of violent crime. Participants learn about:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Haemorrhage control.
Consequences of knife-related injuries.

Ms Waddington said: ‘Becoming the RCN Nurse of the Year is a huge privilege. I hope it will show other nurses that there are a vast number of opportunities out there, and if you have a passion for an idea, you can do it.’

Work ‘should replicated across the health sector’

The YourStance team consists of 150 volunteer members, including nurses, doctors and paramedics from across London.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the team had delivered 23 sessions and reached more than 400 young people.

RELATED: RCN Nurse of the Year 2020: using CPR sessions to tackle the youth knife crime epidemic

RCN deputy president Yvonne Coghill, chair of the RCNi Nurse Awards 2020 judging panel, said: ‘I was totally blown away by Ana. Her work teaching young people what to do after someone has been the victim of knife crime is revolutionary and should be replicated across the health sector.

‘Ana is so professional, innovative and hardworking. She deserves to be named RCN Nurse of the Year.’

Congratulations to all winners and finalists

RCN general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said each entry ‘speaks of ability and achievement’ and highlighted how important it was to celebrate nursing amid the pandemic and in the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

‘It is a real pleasure to congratulate Ana Waddington as RCN Nurse of the Year, and the other winners, as well as all the other entrants who have so much to be so proud of,’ Professor Kinnair said.

The other category award winners (and sponsors) are:

Innovations in Your Specialty Award (Sponsored by Impelsys)

Winner: Ana Waddington (RCN Nurse of the Year 2020), Barts Health NHS Trust

Advanced Nursing Practice Award (Sponsored by the RCN)

Winner: Rosa Ungpakorn, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust