EVER since getting a taste for nursing in her mid-teens, Emily Gartshore has had a passion for the profession.
That dedication to helping others has now resulted in her being crowned the country's best adult student nurse.
The 22-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on Monday, has been named among the winners of the Student Nursing Times Awards 2014.
University of Nottingham student Emily said: "I'm just so over the moon to have won, it's a great feeling.
"It's recognition for the things I've done to try and contribute to nursing. It also recognises all that student nurses do and all that they can achieve, and I hope it will inspire others."
Emily is due to complete a four-year undergraduate masters degree in nursing at the university next month.
In that time, she has completed around 15 placements in departments at the QMC and City Hospital, King's Mill Hospital, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, and in the community.
Her current role involves working at the QMC's Lynn Jarrett Unit, which treats acute patients from the emergency department.
Emily said: "When I was in school, I was always interested in working with people, and biology.
"I had work experience on a hospital ward when I was 15. On that first day, I fell in love with nursing and I've never looked back.
"Every day I love it more and more and I feel I've really found my vocation. I feel very lucky to have found what's so perfect for me."
As for her future after completing her studies, Emily, of Melton Mowbray, hopes to find nursing work in Nottingham.
She said: "I can't wait to continue my nursing career. I've had such a great time and I want to continue to thrive and love nursing.
"I'd like to see my career starting out in oncology or haematology. In that environment you can really deliver high-quality patient care and get to know them and their families."
The awards, organised by Nursing Times Magazine, recognised Emily's work on the wards and in promoting student nursing in the city.
She has been chairman of her course's learning community forum and also involved in setting up the student task group at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Sue Haines, assistant director of nursing for the trust, said: "Emily is a student nurse who acts with compassion and empathy in all she does.
"Her exceptional contribution to nursing as a student is inspiring."
The winners of the awards were announced during a lunch at the London Hilton.
A total of 670 student nurses, education providers, and mentors were guests at the ceremony, including 127 finalists and 18 category winners.
The University of Nottingham was also a winner, claiming the Teaching Innovation of the Year award in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton.
This was in recognition of the two universities' running of the National Junior Leadership Academy, which launched last year.
It aimed to support high-performing nursing students to develop their leadership skills early in their careers through retreats, internships and mentor support.
Emily was among the first 18 students to take part in the academy.
Programme leader Stacy Johnson said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have won this award.
"I think it really shows what can be done when universities, the NHS and other organisations work together.
"We would not have been able to deliver such a high-quality programme without the support of organisations that hosted interns and the individuals that mentored students."
She added: "The public need not fear for the future of nursing. It is bright."
Have the city's nurses done something special to help you? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.
