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Becoming a registered nurse/midwife is the culmination of years of study, hard work and dedication. Students must attain both clinical and academic competence in their chosen field of practice to graduate and secure their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Open to pre-registration nursing and midwifery students in Scotland, this award aims to recognise those who have shown exceptional promise during their professional education and/or practice placement. Nominees for this award will deserve recognition for exceptional achievement during their studies. This could be academic performance, clinical skill, teamwork or outstanding patient care during clinical placement.

Who could be nominated?

The nominee must be a student nurse or student midwife studying in Scotland at the time of nomination.

What was the criteria for consideration?

Each finalist must clearly demonstrate:

• that they have made significant difference and embodied the best of nursing in their chosen field during their studies
• exceptional achievement during their years of study
• the use of a credible evidence base and/or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
• a commitment and passion for the nursing or midwifery profession.

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 Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland - is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. With a strong commitment to high-quality education and research which supports the communities we serve, we have strong partnerships with employers to ensure our students get the careers they dream of and deserve.

Whether focusing on children, adults, mental health, learning disabilities or professional studies, our nursing degrees offer students the opportunity to develop caring careers that can transform the lives of patients, families and communities.

We have a number of collaborative partnerships with several NHS Health Boards, third-sector organisations (such as the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the British Heart Foundation), hospices, and European institutes and networks.

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

• Connall Green, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Katie Walker, Robert Gordon University
• Omar Arshad, University of Dundee

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.

Nursing Student
Glasgow Caledonian University

Connall’s nomination focussed on his exceptional resilience, dedication, and compassion throughout his journey to becoming a nurse. He has balanced multiple part-time jobs, academic studies, clinical placements, and volunteer work while maintaining strong performance and a positive attitude. Inspired by paramedics who cared for him during a medical emergency and his experiences as a barman witnessing alcohol-related health risks, Connall shifted his career path from paramedic science to nursing, driven by a desire to help others. He volunteers with Glasgow Street Aid, providing first aid and crisis support to vulnerable and homeless individuals, sometimes saving lives through swift, decisive action. His clinical placements, including intensive care and plastic surgery, have allowed him to develop advanced skills while delivering compassionate, person-centred care. Connall is widely recognised for his professionalism, empathy, and leadership, supporting both patients and peers, embodying the core values of nursing—compassion, commitment, and courage—and is highly regarded as a future intensive care nurse. 

Former Nursing Student at Robert Gordon University
(Now qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse)

Katie’s nomination centred on her exceptional nursing practice during her placements in acute mental health settings, providing compassionate, person-centred care that went above and beyond to meet the individual needs of each patient. By understanding each patient as a person first and learning their individual stories, Katie ensured that care was tailored, respectful, and empowering, positively influencing patient engagement and recovery. Her professionalism, dedication, and holistic approach made her highly valued by both patients and the multidisciplinary team, establishing her as a role model for student nurses and registered staff alike. Beyond her direct patient care, Katie exhibited natural leadership, initiative, and collaboration, confidently supporting colleagues in challenging situations and encouraging a compassionate, team-oriented approach. Her calmness under pressure, proactive attitude, and determination to improve every day reinforced high standards of nursing practice and ward morale. Through her empathetic and thoughtful actions, Katie not only improved individual patient outcomes but also promoted a culture of compassion, active listening, and shared decision-making, exemplifying the transformative impact of excellent mental health nursing.

Former Nursing Student at University of Dundee
(Now qualified as a Registered Nurse)

Driven by his personal experience living with Crohn’s disease, Omar has transformed his own challenges into a powerful motivation to provide compassionate, person-centred care. His time as a patient inspired him to stand on the other side of care, offering hope, dignity, and strength to those he serves. Throughout his studies, he has balanced academic demands, family responsibilities, and work on the NHS Tayside Staff Bank across multiple wards, gaining diverse clinical experience in surgical, acute, and medical settings. These experiences have strengthened his empathy, resilience, adaptability, and understanding of multidisciplinary teamwork, enabling him to deliver safe, high-quality care while maintaining professionalism and compassion. A passionate advocate for nursing students, his leadership empowers peers to engage in reflective practice, professional networking, and advocacy. His passion also extends to how digital healthcare and technology can enhance patient outcomes and free-up nurses to focus on hands-on, compassionate care. Throughout his journey, he has embodied the core values of modern nursing: resilience, compassion, service, and the commitment to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

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 amongst Scotland's nursing students.