HE has been championing better care for dementia patients ever since he started his degree.
And now, the world of nursing has woken up to the work of Edgerton student Richard Broadhead.
He has beaten hundreds of other trainee nurses to become a finalist in the Royal College of Nursing, Nursing Standard Student of the Year Award.
Richard, who is in his third year of a Mental Health Nursing degree at the University of Huddersfield, is up against one other adult nurse student.
He said: “There were hundreds of us in the running including disability, mental health, adult and child nurses.
“We were brought in front of a panel of three judges including, Andrea Spryopolous, the president of the Royal College of Nursing. I had to give a presentation and then I was told that I was one of two who had made it to the final.
“I think I have got so far because of the promotional work I have been doing with dementia at Folly Hall in Huddersfield, the base for the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust.
“I created two DVDs, specialised to promote dementia awareness and to advocate for carers of dementia.
“They were shown at different NHS events to help get funding for new interventions.
“From there I did a lot of talks about dementia across Yorkshire with audiences around 30 to 40 people. When I finish my degree I want to work in a ward area for the elderly with onset dementia.”
The former Greenhead College student has done a series of placements and is currently working at ward 19 at Dewsbury District Hospital – a 30-bed unit for older people with mental health problems.
He thanked the team at Folly Hall who have supported him through the process.
The 21-year-old will find out if he has won on March 22 at the Nursing Standard’s Nurse 2012 Awards ceremony at the Hilton on Park Lane, London. One of the competition’s nine category winners will also be selected to receive the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year 2012.
He continued: “I am absolutely over the moon to have got this far and although the competition is tough, I really hope I win. It will be very exciting to go to the award ceremony and as my family have been so supportive they are going to come down with me along with my girlfriend.”
RCN regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, Kevin Austerberry, said: “The fact that Richard has been selected as one of just two finalists in his category reflects not only his own hard work and dedication but also the high calibre of students and teaching at the University of Huddersfield.”
