Senior Lecturer is awarded the RCN Wales Research in Nursing Award 2017

A Senior Lecturer & Professional Head for Mental Health at Cardiff University, School of Healthcare Sciences has been recognised at the 6^thAnnual Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales Nurse of the Year Awards 2017.

The awards are open to all registered nurses, students, midwives and health care support workers in Wales and showcases the great amount of talent in the industry.

Dr Nicola Evans a researcher at Cardiff University, picked up the RCN in Wales Research in Nursing Award 2017 at a celebration dinner in Cardiff on Wednesday 15 November 2017 which was attended by healthcare professionals across Wales.

Dr Evans has been part of the School since 2003 and has held a number of additional roles within the school including her current role as Professional Head for Mental Health. The focus of her teaching, research and most recent clinical work has been focused on children and young people experiencing mental health problems.

The Awards are a fantastic opportunity to offer recognition for nurses who demonstrate excellence in practice. Healthcare professionals can be nominated by peers, patients and the general public in recognition of their dedication and skills. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished nursing leaders.

Dr Nicola Evans said 'We frequently hear that the mental health needs in this vulnerable population are rising, and that services are not adequate to meet the increasing demand. I am interested in looking at how services can be delivered in a way that helps children, young people and their families access appropriate help in a timely way, thus enabling a quicker recovery and improved outcomes.’

‘I have been lucky enough to secure funding for previous studies from the Health Foundation and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), working on studies with colleagues here in the School, particularly Professor Davina Allen, Professor Ben Hannigan, Deborah Edwards and Dr Michelle Huws-Thomas, with YoungMinds and colleagues in practice from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in both the UK and overseas.’

To find out more about the criteria for the award please visit RCN Wales