Nursing graduate inspires new national award for research

Joy O'Gorman has sparked the creation of a clinical research in the national Student Nursing Times Awards
Professor Ruth Endacott and Joy O'Gorman 

Professor Ruth Endacott and Joy O'Gorman 

A nursing graduate from the University of Plymouth has sparked the creation of a new category in the national Student Nursing Times Awards.

Joy O’Gorman is a newly qualified nurse who has recently started working for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust having graduated last year.

Working together with Ruth Endacott, Honorary Professor at the University of Plymouth and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Director for Nursing and Midwifery, she has designed and created a new research-related category for the annual awards ceremony.

The Student Nurse or Midwife of the Year: Clinical Research is now open for applications. To enter, visit the Student Nursing Times Awards website by Friday 25 February.

The new aims to recognise a student nurse who has shown themselves to be a true advocate for clinical research, for example, by promoting it to their peers through their experience or raising the profile of clinical research placements through positive impacts. Clinical research nursing is an important and rapidly growing specialty, which promotes and develops the vital role of nurses in the delivery of high-quality clinical research.



Joy said:
“I have had a strong interest in clinical research since the onset of my degree, which was very much encouraged by the University during my studies. I was also delighted to work with the brilliant Research Nursing team at University Hospitals Plymouth for my final optional placement in July 2021, which inspired and consolidated my passion for research even further.”
Joy O'Gorman, nursing student

As a proactive student, Joy was shortlisted for three categories in the Student Nursing Times Awards in 2021, which is where she met Professor Endacott. Joy presented her idea to Ruth and her team at the NIHR, who were keen to support its development and to sponsor and help launch the new category for 2022.

Joy continued: 

“I’m so lucky to have met Ruth and that the team at the Nursing Times were keen to support the idea. It has been wonderful to see this new category launched and even more so to have been invited to sit on the judging panel, where I will get to see some of the fantastic research being pioneered by nursing and midwifery students across the country.”

 Professor Endacott said: 

“The new category highlights the importance of undergraduate placements in research facilities, giving student nurses and midwives the opportunity to experience how research really works. It also meets the objectives of the CNO Strategic Plan for Research (2021) – a call to action to every Chief Nurse and partner organisations to actively facilitate more nursing-led research. This is a very exciting time for clinical research in both nursing and midwifery practice.”

Steve Ford, editor of Nursing Times, said: 

“It is fantastic to be adding a new category to the Student Nursing Times Awards this year, especially one that is dedicated to such an important area as clinical research. Thank you so much to Joy and Ruth for working with us to help shape and develop the new category, which is a great addition to the awards. I urge all student nurses and midwives involved in clinical research to consider entering, so that, together, we can celebrate your achievements.”

The Student Nursing Times Awards ceremony will take place on Friday 27 May 2022.


Begin your future in healthcare

The University offers the largest range of healthcare study options in the South West. Your learning experience will be enhanced by our state-of-the-art clinical facilities, joined up working and real life placement opportunities across the region. 

Join us – become a healthcare professional of the future
First choice for health getty image