Yvonne Coghill: Why you should nominate a colleague for an RCNi Award

Too few nurses from black and minority ethnic backgrounds receive awards for their efforts, perhaps because so few are nominated by colleagues. Winning an award boosts confidence and self-esteem and is good for career development, so show your appreciation for a colleague and nominate them for an RCNi award, says Yvonne Coghill

Watching the Golden Globe awards earlier this month made me realise how important it is to be recognised for the work you do. It was also with some pride that I watched role model and icon Oprah Winfrey receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

This made me think about how few nurses from black and minority ethnic or BME backgrounds receive awards for their efforts, which can only be because so few people nominate their colleagues and friends. You have to be in it to win it, as the saying goes.

Awards are about recognising the day-to-day work of colleagues, and how they go above and beyond expectations. It's about effort, energy and attitude.

I remember being named among the top 50 most influential nurses in the NHS a few years ago, and how proud it made me feel.

Confidence and self-esteem

Being nominated and winning an award is good for your confidence and self-esteem, and also for your CV.

In nominating colleagues, you are also valuing their contribution to the service and to the NHS.

The RCNi Nurse Awards 2018 are open for entries. Spend a few moments considering who you might nominate, and how delighted they would be.

My plea to all nurses, but especially those from BME backgrounds, is to nominate someone. It doesn’t take long and the benefits for you and the individual nominated are more than worth it.

Yvonne Coghill is director of the Workforce Race Equality Standard implementation programme at NHS England
@WRES_team