News | Thursday, 30th September 2021
Manchester Met student shortlisted for prestigious Student Nurse of the Year award
The awards celebrate the very best student nurses and nurse education
A Manchester Metropolitan University nursing student has been shortlisted in the 2021 Student Nursing Times Awards.
Oluwafunmilayo Mufidat Odumala is one of 12 finalists from across the UK in the Student Nurse of the Year: Mental Health category.
The awards, now in their tenth year, recognise the brightest talent making their way into the nursing profession, along with educational excellence from universities and other bodies supporting student nurses.
Oluwafunmilayo, a mature student, completed her undergraduate degree in Mental Health Nursing in September 2021. She worked as a care and support worker for over 20 years before beginning her degree, deciding to pursue a career in mental health nursing after witnessing first-hand the relationship between mental and physical health.
She said: "I am overwhelmed and delighted to be nominated and shortlisted as the best mental health nurse for 2021. Achieving this award will make me work harder and continue to push for excellence in all that I do.
“I’m very glad I chose Manchester Metropolitan to study for my nursing degree. There are more opportunities for mature students here and the teaching staff in the nursing department really want to bring the best out of you.”
Gina Helsby, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Manchester Metropolitan said: “Oluwafunmilayo is an inspiration to students, colleagues and for all of us who have had to overcome personal and professional challenges throughout the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has such a profound impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing. It is now more important than ever that we recognise students like Oluwafunmilayo who spend each day trying to make the lives of others a bit better.’’
The annual Student Nursing Times Awards receive hundreds of entrants each year across their 21 categories. Manchester Metropolitan has consistently been recognised in the awards’ ten-year existence and was twice named as the best place for nurse training in the UK.
The full shortlist for the 2021 awards is available here. The winners will be announced on 4th November in an awards ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
