AN award-winning nursing graduate has inspired and impressed both her lecturers and her fellow students during her studies at the University of Chester.

Rose James, 24, from Upton, Wirral, has used her time at the university to make real change to both the curriculum and to improving the experience of other students as well as achieving an outstanding first class degree in BN Adult Nursing.

Last year, Rose was recognised for her hard work in empowering the student voice by being awarded the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs award by the Student Nursing Times.

Alongside fellow recent graduate Daniel Branch and Peg Murphy, senior lecturer in the university’s Faculty of Health and Social Care, Rose established the Student Empowerment Group (SEG) where she acted as co-chair.

The SEG was set up to give students a platform to be heard and be given an even better experience during their studies.

During her first year of study, Rose was invited to become the Student Representative for the Programme Planning Team (PPT).

The team was set up by the university’s director of Pre-registration Nursing, Julie Dulson, to write the new curriculum under the new Nursing and Midwifery Council Guidelines for pre-registration nurses, which required the inclusion of the student voice in order for it to become validated.

In this role, Rose attended meetings to provide feedback and assist in co-writing the new course content.

Rose also devised a new project currently being developed by the SEG called Your First of Everything, an interactive tool for students and staff to share reflections and experiences enabling students to learn from each other.

Rose also won the Tom Mason Award for her commitment to Nursing in the University’s Valedictory prizegiving awards.

During the course of her studies, Rose also represented the University at a Chief Nursing Officer Conference.

She said: “I chose to study at the University of Chester is because this university stood out to me from other universities within my area. Their professionalism and dedication to supporting their student nurses gave me the confidence that they were the right choice for me.

“Winning the Student Nursing Times Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Affairs was one of my biggest achievements.

The university, lecturers, students and most importantly, the Student Empowerment Group, supported me every step of the way and without all of this support, I would not have won the award. It opened the doors to so many other opportunities in my professional career and I am extremely humbled to have won.”

Amanda Clarke, deputy head of the Department of Acute Adult Care in the university’s Faculty of Health and Social Care, said: “The Nursing programme is a demanding course, as students undertake full-time practical placements alongside completing their theory work.

"Rose’s constant enthusiasm for the student nurse experience, contributing so actively to a variety of extra-curricular activities, all of which pertain to student empowerment, is testament to Rose’s dedication to her chosen profession.”