National awards finalists proud to be nominated

Two Renfrewshire nurses have been shortlisted for the prestigious RCN (Royal College of Nursing) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.

- TAYLOR MURRAY

Kirsty Cartin and Jennifer Carruthers of Rashilee Care Home in Erskine were shocked at the news of being shortlisted for the ceremony that takes place on Thursday, June 12.

Kirsty, who is the manager of the home, is in the running for the clinical leadership category while deputy manager Jennifer will be hoping to scoop the prize in the care home nurse section.

However, Kirsty says that even being nominated for the award is an honour in itself after always wanting to be a nurse and keen to help break the stigma around working in care homes.

"As a manager, I’m very proud of the service that we provide here,” she told the Express. “I've been recognised as a nurse leader before in the care home sector but this award is wider.

"This is the potential of being recognised as a leader at a national level that's across sectors.

“It’s not just care homes, it’s care homes and the NHS and every other type of nurse there is in Scotland. So, I'm incredibly proud because nursing has been my passion.

“I always wanted to be a nurse and I’m proud as a care home nurse to kind of show that, even if you don’t work in the NHS, as a nurse you can still lead others.

“I love being able to show that to people. To try and change the image of care homes as a lot of people think it's doom and gloom - that's where people go to die.