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This is the Scottish public’s opportunity to thank a nurse, midwife or nursing support worker who has made a difference to their, or a loved one’s, care.

Patients, clients, residents, relatives or friends can nominate a nurse, midwife or nursing support worker who they believe has made a difference and gone that extra mile to ensure the highest standards of care.

Who could be nominated?

Registered nurses, registered midwives and nursing support workers working within health and care service in Scotland. 

Entries will be accepted from patients, clients, residents, relatives, friends, or colleagues in the capacity of a member of the public only.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards, please get in touch by emailing scotlandnurseawards@rcn.org.uk

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This award has kindly been sponsored by The Sunday Post

One of Britain’s best-known newspapers, The Sunday Post is a Scottish institution. For more than 100 years, we have delivered outstanding journalism, told Scotland’s stories and informed and entertained generations of readers. Our award-winning journalism, from the hardest news and heart-warming features to enthralling sport and compelling campaigns, has helped change lives and change the country.

Named Scotland’s Newspaper of the Year in 2018, The Post’s journalism, whether in print or online, is built on accuracy, decency, and fairness and has, through the years, made it a Sunday essential for millions of Scots, young and old, at home or abroad.

The nominations process closed on 14 November 2025 and following our judging process, four finalists have been selected:

• Daniel Doyle, Staff Nurse in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Volunteer Registered Nurse with Glasgow Street Aid
• Emma-Jane Trayner, Remote Consultation Advanced Nurse Practitioner with the Scottish Ambulance Service, Stornoway
• Jean Cairns, Practice Nurse, Arrochar Surgery, Argyll and Bute
• Margaret McLean, Community Staff Nurse, NHS Lanarkshire

You can read more below about why our judges feel these finalists represent the #BestOfNursing in Scotland.

The winners will be announced at our glittering awards ceremony at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on 30 April.

Staff Nurse, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Volunteer Registered Nurse, Glasgow Street Aid

Daniel, a nurse from Glasgow, has been nominated for his exceptional dedication and humanity in nursing. Working as a volunteer Staff Nurse with Glasgow Street Aid, he provides frontline medical care to people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises, often in challenging, late-night environments. He is known for his warmth, calmness, and empathy, going beyond medical treatment to ensure patients feel safe, respected, and supported. Daniel’s impact extends beyond patients; he mentors volunteers and students, modelling professionalism and compassionate care in emergencies. Families and patients alike praise his ability to restore dignity and hope, with one patient calling him “the first nurse who ever made me feel like a person again.” He pursued social care and nursing studies, eventually working with children with serious congenital heart disorders at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Daniel believes nursing is about rescuing lives and offering hope, ensuring that no one is overlooked in their most vulnerable moments. His courage, compassion, and selflessness have transformed countless lives.

Remote Consultation Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Scottish Ambulance Service (Stornoway)

Emma-Jane is nominated for dedicating her career to transforming healthcare in Scotland’s remote islands. Arriving in 2007 as the sole resuscitation officer across 7 islands, she quickly became a leader in emergency care, cardiology, and primary and acute care, providing training, guidance, and hands-on treatment in situations ranging from neonatal emergencies and paediatric anaphylaxis to severe trauma, cardiac events, and maternal haemorrhage. She has led multi-agency responses, coordinated emergency evacuations, and managed critically ill patients with limited local resources, often creating innovative solutions such as using technology to protect staff during COVID or establishing the first ICU model in the Western Isles. Now one of only five Cardiology Nurse Consultants in Scotland and recently joining the Scottish Ambulance Service, she continues to strengthen health systems, save lives, and keep patients close to their families in some of the most geographically challenging environments. Emma-Jane combines technical excellence, leadership, and humanity, setting the standard for remote and specialist nursing and truly deserving recognition for her transformative impact.

Practice Nurse
Arrochar Surgery, Argyll and Bute

Jean has been nominated for her compassion, professionalism, and dedication have profoundly shaped the Arrochar community for over 16 years. She provides expert medical care while also offering emotional support, advocacy, and reassurance to patients of all ages, often going above and beyond her contracted hours. Whether following up on chronic conditions, accompanying patients to hospital appointments, delivering food parcels, or visiting vulnerable individuals at home, Jean ensures that no one feels forgotten or alone. Her proactive approach, holistic care, and genuine empathy have earned her the trust and admiration of patients, families, and colleagues alike, who describe her as a lifeline, confidante, and friend. Beyond her clinical duties, Jean has had a transformative impact on the wider community. She founded and led the Arrochar Youth Group, guiding young people in health education, personal development, and life-changing volunteer trips to Africa, while also coordinating initiatives like local foodbanks and “Warm Hub” sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. At 68, she inspires everyone around her with her dedication, warmth, and humility.

Community Staff Nurse
Airdrie Community Health Centre, NHS Lanarkshire

Margaret, a district nurse from Airdrie, has devoted nearly six decades to the NHS and continues to work part-time administering flu and Covid vaccinations to older and vulnerable patients. Beginning her nursing career in 1967 as a student on the Nightingale wards of the former Law Hospital in Lanarkshire, she has dedicated her life to preventing illness, particularly cardiovascular disease, and has consistently gone above and beyond in caring for her patients, using her experience to spot early signs of serious conditions such as sepsis and stroke. Margaret has applied her skills not only to patients but to her own family and colleagues, saving lives with her quick interventions and vigilance, while also surviving a personal battle with bowel cancer. Her passion for healthcare remains undiminished, inspiring her daughter and granddaughter to pursue medical careers, showing that commitment, compassion, and expertise can make a profound and lasting impact on both individuals and the wider community.

Whilst our 2026 finalists await to find out the results at our award ceremony on 30 April 2026, read about our previous winners of this category and what made them stand out as the #BestOfNursing to Scotland's public.