RCN Awards of Merit

Dr Sonya Clarke

Dr Sonya Clarke was Chair of the RCN Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing (SOTN) from 2015 to 2019, having served the previous four years on the steering committee, during which time it went from strength to strength. She was instrumental in the writing or revising of key guidelines on pin site care, traction and acute limb compartment syndrome, and the publication of competencies for orthopaedic and trauma nurses.

Sonya’s work on the society’s steering committee ensured that casting courses are now delivered in Northern Ireland, where previously students had been required to travel to Scotland or England.

Sonya endeavoured to maintain strong networks of communication between the SOTN and its 4,000 members, encouraging the use of social media to achieve this, and ensuring that the committee delivered at least one workshop or conference per year. 

According to her nominator, “the work she has done for the RCN SOTN and the greater nursing voice has been exceptional” and will ensure the committee continues to develop following her term of office.

Described by more than one of her nomination supporters as a role model, Sonya was tireless in her commitment to the RCN Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, all while continuing her work as a senior lecturer and completing a Doctorate in Education (EdD).

Sonya says: “I was shocked, delighted and humbled on receiving notification from the RCN that I was to receive the Award of Merit. My connection with the RCN goes back to 1988 as a student nurse; more recently it lies within the professional forum, the Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing (SOTN) and with children’s nursing.

“Coming from Northern Ireland, the forum enabled me to network locally, nationally and internationally. The SOTN continues to publish national guidance across the life span, hold successful conferences and workshops, embraces social media and actively contributes to Congress. The RCN has continued to support and guide my nursing career. My aim is to make a difference.”

Denise Kelly

Denise Kelly is an RCN steward and was recently elected as Northern Ireland member of the RCN Trade Union Committee. Denise was instrumental in raising public awareness of the RCN’s safe staffing campaign in Northern Ireland, giving interviews for TV, radio and print media, as well as actively engaging via social media.

During industrial action in Northern Ireland which began in December 2019, Denise was her trust’s strike committee lead, a role which meant she visited all wards and travelled across multiple sites to meet her colleagues face to face to ensure they were prepared for industrial action. This involved a huge amount of travel across the country, at a time when Denise was also completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Strategic Workforce Planning and working full-time nightshifts.

Denise’s commitment to the safe staffing campaign and strike action shone through not only in her leadership, but in the personal sacrifices she made, none more so than when she took the decision to miss a family holiday to Iceland – booked many months in advance – to ensure she was able to take part in the strike action.

Denise was described by her nominator as “one of the very best in nursing” and one of her nomination supporters said: “I have never been so inspired by the commitment of a colleague.”

I strive to ensure that our members’ voices are heard, even if what is being said is difficult, and I am privileged to be able to do that

Denise says: “I am truly humbled to receive this important award. Everything I do in my role as a steward has the members, no matter who they are, as the central focus. In Northern Ireland nursing staff have been through very difficult times, standing on picket lines to speak up for patients and to simply ask to be treated fairly and equally.

“I strive to ensure that our members’ voices are heard, even if what is being said is difficult, and I am privileged to be able to do that. It is overwhelming that someone has taken the time to nominate me for this award and it strengthens my resolve to continue to support and represent RCN members.”

Denise McLaughlin

Denise McLaughlin is Chair of the UK Safety Representatives Committee and has been involved with the RCN as an active member since 2004 when she became a steward. She became a safety representative two years later. For the past four years, Denise has also been staff side chair in her organisation.

Denise has served in a number of roles during her time with the College including as chair and vice chair of RCN branch committees, where she has worked to increase local member engagement. Drawing upon this experience, she successfully oversaw the merger of two local branches to form the Northumberland Tyne and Wear branch, which she then chaired for the first two years of its existence. Denise has also served eight years as a member of the RCN Northern Board. 

Denise is now the Northern region’s lead for the RCN’s Staffing for Safe and Effective Care campaign. In this role, her nominator explains that the members across the region she engages with “have great respect for Denise and the amount of work she undertakes.”

This respect is shared by a supporter of her nomination, who said “activists such as Denise come along all too rarely, she is a glowing example of a professional representative.”

Denise says: “I feel both honoured and humbled to receive the RCN Award of Merit. To be recognised in this way for my commitment to nursing and the RCN in the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife is truly an honour.

“To receive an award of this stature was a delightful surprise and is particularly poignant in this current unprecedented time with the challenges being faced by the profession. It is a real privilege to be able to support and represent local members and to support reps within my national role.”

Dr Alison O’Donnell

Dr Alison O’Donnell is a past chair and steering committee member of the RCN’s History of Nursing Forum. She has made an exceptional contribution to the forum and to the RCN, particularly in Scotland.

During her time on the committee, Alison played a crucial role in providing mentoring and support for new members, writing blogs, contributing articles to the Nursing History Now magazine and organising Congress fringe events. Her time on the committee saw the forum’s membership triple to over 2,000 members.

Alison has travelled around Scotland recording nurses’ oral histories and was actively involved with the RCN’s centenary celebrations in 2016. She continues to volunteer for the RCN archives weekly.

Alongside her work supporting the delivery of exhibitions and events, Alison has been involved in an important project digitising RCN committee records, which a supporter of her nomination explains “has led to a more critical understanding of the work of the RCN” and was an invaluable resource for the Fellows’ lecture she delivered commemorating 100 years of registration.

In concluding their testimonial, her nominator said: “Alison has made an enormous contribution to promoting the RCN and nursing history in Scotland and across the UK and has given freely of her talents and skills.”

This award affirms to me that nursing history has parallels with today’s contemporary health care setting

Alison says: “I am very honoured to have been considered for the RCN Award of Merit 2020 and would like to thank the RCN for this award.

“The award has a particular resonance for me in this year, the WHO International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, as it relates to my long-held interest in nursing history. My role as a volunteer for the RCN archives has afforded me the privilege of linking the stories of the past with current caring challenges, and this award affirms to me that nursing history has parallels with today’s contemporary health care setting.”