A nurse at St George's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has won a Cavell Star Award.

Nikki Yun is a Intensive Care nurse at the Tooting hospital was nominated by colleagues for going above and beyond for her team mates and student nurses.

As well as her demanding nursing role, Nikki finds time to organise conferences and congresses for student nurses, encouraging them to attend and widen their sphere of learning by meeting and talking to influential delegates, such as Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England and Janet Davies, former Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing.

A member of Nikki’s team said: “Nikki was described at the Pan London Student Nurse Congress by the nursing leaders of today as a ‘force of nature’, an ‘inspirational role model’, and a ‘true nursing leader’. One student commented ‘everything she touches turns to gold’. Nurses at all levels are inspired by her energy and leadership. Recognising her accomplishments will only help to inspire and empower others to be better nurses.”

Nursing charity Cavell Nurses’ Trust launched the Cavell Star Awards in April in partnership with LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare.

Nominations are being sought from nursing teams throughout the UK for someone who has shown exceptional care, either for their colleagues or their patients and patients’ families.

Each Cavell Star Award winner receives a medal, presentation case and pin badge as well as invites to attend special Care & Cake parties next year, celebrating of the nation’s nursing professionals.

Receiving the Cavell Star Award from her team put a real smile on Nikki’s face, she said “I was speechless. I was touched that my work organising events for student nurses has been recognised in this way. I gain a lot from students and I know how passionate they are so I feel strongly that it’s important to inspire the next generation of nurses.

“It’s great to be recognised for what we do. I don’t think nurses are recognised enough. We work extremely hard and not being valued can be demoralising so winning a Cavell Star Award is an absolute honour.”

The Cavell Star Awards are in partnership with LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare and sponsored by NEXT, UNISON, NHS Improvement, National Garden Scheme, Health Education England, NHS Professionals, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Alexandra, British Journal of Nursing, The Embassy of Belgium in the UK and Thornbury Nursing Services & Scottish Nursing Guild.

Cavell Nurses’ Trust is a charity that supports UK nurses, midwives and health care assistant's, both working and retired, when they’re suffering personal or financial hardship often due to illness, disability, older age and domestic abuse. By the end of 2018, the charity predicts 3,000 will have sought help from the charity.