Nursing leaders inspire and motivate. They advocate for nursing and for high-quality person-centred care and are prepared to challenge and speak up for nursing.

Open to all registered nurses and midwives working in a clinical leadership role in the health, social care or the higher/further education sector. This award aims to recognise an exceptional leader who, by inspiring others, has made a significant difference to service delivery and quality of care. 

Registered nurses and midwives who are in a clinical leadership role within health and care in Scotland.

The nominee should clearly demonstrate:

• effective leadership in creating an environment where nursing is valued, recognised and supported
• a commitment to person-centred care, innovation and delivering high-quality services that make a difference to the people receiving care
• the positive impact of their leadership for service users, families and colleagues
• the use of a credible evidencebase and/or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
• how their work contributes to the delivery of local and national policy and strategy within health and social care.

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

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Nurse Director Acute, NHS Lothian

Described as a transformative leader, Gillian is driving a person-centred culture through compassionate leadership. She spearheaded the 5-year Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, uniting voices across the Board and strengthening governance, safety, and staff support. Key initiatives have included the Lothian Care Assurance and Accreditation System which ensures quality care, electronic person-centred care planning which has been expanded across 104 wards, and a career progression programme for BME nurses and midwives. Gillian fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional development, establishing the Lothian Experiential Learning Academy and engaging in dementia research. Her leadership, despite financial challenges, has significantly improved patient care, workforce support, and NHS Lothian’s national influence.

Care Home Manager, Rashielee Care Home, Erskine

A compassionate and dedicated care home nurse, Kirsty’s leadership is rooted in advocacy, empowerment, and a commitment to justice. She champions the value of care home nursing, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement at Rashielee Care Home. Her leadership has transformed the care home into a thriving, inclusive environment where residents, families, and staff feel valued and supported. Her key achievements include supporting staff development by encouraging peer learning, practice supervisor training, and professional growth. With the future in mind, she has expanded student placements and tailored learning resources to highlight the skills required in care home nursing. Kirsty’s person-centred approach fosters a positive workplace culture, ensures high staff retention, and strengthens the perception of care homes as vital spaces for compassionate, high-quality nursing.

Cardiac Nurse Specialist, NHS Shetland

Marie has dedicated her career to improving cardiovascular care in remote and rural settings. As a single-handed practitioner for many years, she played a pivotal role in developing and expanding cardiac nursing pathways, ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for Shetland residents. Marie is praised for establishing and delivering essential cardiac services such as the cardiac nurse referral and heart failure pathways, cardiac rehabilitation, and remote monitoring for heart failure patients. Marie’s leadership has significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare inequalities, and established Shetland as a model for delivering specialist cardiac care in remote regions. Her work is described as exemplifying clinical excellence, innovation, and dedication to person-centred care. Marie is committed to advancing professional development by supporting student placements, supervising trainees, and contributing to national research on cardiac care.

Senior Charge Nurse
Critical Care, NHS Borders

Lynsey is nominated due to her exceptional commitment to improving nursing practice and creating a supportive environment in NHS Borders. With over 26 years of experience, primarily in the intensive care unit (ICU), Lynsey has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and a dedication to patient-centred care. She has significantly contributed to transforming the role and culture of nursing in the ICU and beyond by implementing quality improvement initiatives and fostering innovation. Despite limited resources, Lynsey has spearheaded various projects aimed at enhancing patient care and staff wellbeing. Her key achievements include implementing a nurse-led sedation management protocol, successfully advocating for the establishment of a clinical nurse educator (CNE) position in the ICU to ensure the delivery of high-quality care in line with national standards, and introducing a flexible nursing rostering system to address staff shortages and improve staff morale and patient safety. Evaluation of these initiatives has demonstrated their effectiveness through various metrics, including improved patient outcomes, increased staff competency, reduced costs, and positive feedback from staff surveys. Lynsey's work has also been recognised at national conferences and published in relevant journals.

Lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Kirkintilloch Health and Care Centre, East Dunbartonshire HSCP

Described by her colleagues as kind and courageous, with a background in District Nursing, Michelle completed the ANP pathway and was appointed as a District Nurse Advanced Nurse Practitioner in February 2021, the first post of its kind in her NHS board. Michelle’s commitment to research and evidence defines her leadership style, supporting transformation in her team and across the wider health and care locality team. Leading an anticipatory care planning (ACP) work stream she has introduced ACP champions across DN, Community Rehab, ANPs, Social Work, Care at Home, Care Homes and Older Peoples Mental Health services. Michelle acts as a role model, providing assessor and supervisor roles for DNs and student DNs. Michelle also leads a standardised approach to baseline assessment and clinical handovers which supports the early recognition of deterioration and triage. Michelle has implemented a multi-disciplinary team approach to increasing awareness around frailty, establishing and facilitating weekly MDT meetings. Michelle has also had a significant impact on GPs referrals. The unique contribution of her role is in undertaking a holistic nursing assessment alongside complex clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and care planning.