Nurse leading 40 staff at Antrim Area Hospital wins major RCN award

Nuala O’Connell, a Ward Sister at Antrim Area Hospital

A nurse leading one of Northern Ireland’s busiest hospital teams has been recognised for transforming both staff wellbeing and patient care after introducing a workplace support initiative designed to help struggling colleagues reach out in confidence.

Nuala O’Connell, a Ward Sister at Antrim Area Hospital, was named winner of the Team Manager Award at the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards, with four other Northern Health and Social Care Trust colleagues also recognised among the finalists.

The awards celebrate excellence across nursing in Northern Ireland and shine a spotlight on the impact frontline staff make every day in hospitals, community care, mental health services and palliative care.

Nuala leads a team of around 40 staff across a busy surgical ward and emergency assessment unit at Antrim Area Hospital, where she has earned a reputation for supporting and motivating colleagues while maintaining high standards of patient care.

Her nomination highlighted the introduction of ‘Handle With Care’ — an initiative encouraging staff dealing with personal or work-related pressures to confidentially seek support from colleagues.

The programme was praised for helping create a safer and more supportive working environment while also improving the quality of care delivered to patients.

A nominator said:

“Nuala truly is an amazing asset to the service and continually champions for patients and staff.”

Recognition for frontline care across the Northern Trust

Alongside Nuala’s success, four other Northern Trust colleagues were recognised as runners-up across a range of categories at the prestigious awards ceremony.

Maria Betts

Maria Betts was runner-up in the Palliative Care Award category for her work supporting district nurses in delivering co-ordinated and individualised end-of-life care.

The Royal College of Nursing described Maria as an autonomous practitioner with advanced assessment, diagnostic and clinical judgement skills who provides symptom management alongside emotional, spiritual and culturally sensitive support for patients and families.

Feedback from district nursing colleagues and families highlighted the significant impact her work has on helping patients experience positive and compassionate palliative care journeys.

Patient praises mental health nurse’s compassion

Kathy Soutar

Kathy Soutar was named runner-up in the Patient’s Choice Award after being nominated by a patient who praised the deeply personal and compassionate care she provided.

The patient said Kathy shaped her care around the individual rather than “a system, a checklist, or what was expected”.

In the nomination, the patient described mental health nursing as “profoundly demanding work” requiring emotional resilience, patience and the ability to support people through distress and uncertainty.

The patient added:

“Kathy carried this responsibility with compassion, gentleness and grace. I am not sure Kathy ever truly knew the impact she had on me, and I am certain I am not the only person she has supported in this way.”

The judging panel commended Kathy’s commitment to placing patients at the centre of care and her determination to build trusting relationships with those she supports.

Support for newly-qualified nurses recognised

Nerell Browne and Emily Morgan

Nerell Browne and Emily Morgan were runners-up in the Learning in Practice Award category for their work supporting newly-qualified nurses within the Northern Trust’s Medicine Division.

Their work focuses on helping new nurses transition into frontline healthcare roles through structured support and preceptorship programmes.

Feedback from colleagues described the pair as highly visible and supportive on wards, helping both newly-qualified nurses and ward managers throughout the process.

One ward manager said:

“The support that they give is invaluable.”

A newly-qualified nurse added:

“Emily’s support has been amazing and comforting. I’ve only been in post for two weeks and I am really happy with all the support I have received. Nerell has been very supportive. She shows empathy and compassion, which is very much appreciated.”

Northern Trust praises award nominees

Gill Murphy, Interim Executive Director of Nursing at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, congratulated all of the Trust’s nominees and award recipients.

She said the awards remain one of the most important events in the nursing calendar across Northern Ireland.

“These awards are a real highlight every year for the nursing family across Northern Ireland,” she said.

“We are very proud to see Team North leading the way as role models within the profession, delivering high quality, innovative and person-centred compassionate care, while also contributing to and leading service transformation.

“To Nuala, and all our nominees, your dedication, professionalism and commitment to improving outcomes for patients, families and communities is truly inspiring.”

The recognition comes at a time when health services across Northern Ireland continue to face intense pressures, with frontline nursing staff playing an increasingly critical role in patient care, staff wellbeing and service delivery across hospitals and community settings.