NEWLY qualified Hampshire nurses were honoured for their achievements at a special ceremony.

Some 28 nurses and midwives marked their graduation at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s annual badge ceremony.

Every year, the Trust presents graduates from universities, as well as nurses returning to practice, with a Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust badge that they will wear on their uniform for the rest of their career to show where they trained.

Donna Green, chief nurse at Hampshire Hospitals, which runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital hosted the event.

She said: “I’m a very proud chief nurse. We did not want to miss this moment, as your training hospital, to congratulate you on your achievement of becoming registered nurses and midwives.”

As well as their families, friends and colleagues, the graduates were also joined by the mayor of Winchester, councillor David McLean, as well as members of the board and Hampshire Hospitals governors.

A number of special awards were also announced on the night, with The Taverner Award for the exceptional student nurse of the year going to Paul Bradley.

Paul, 51, has worked as a hairdresser and also ran his own business in the USA before realising that nursing was his true passion.

“Life’s too short not to fulfil your passion for what you want to do,” he said. “I always wanted to do something to make a difference and I really wanted to work with people.

“I really enjoy interacting with the patients. That’s what made me want to be a nurse in the first place. It’s great to be able to make them smile and feel good.”

“I felt really well supported during all of my placements at the Trust and I’m looking forward to getting my career as a nurse started.”

Rebecca James, clinical matron on Wessex Ward, nominated Paul for the Taverner Award.

Speaking during the ceremony, she said: “Paul has come to nursing with such passion, determination and grit. It was an absolute pleasure having him on the ward and we have all noticed that we are missing a member of the team since his placement finished.”

Other award winners were Charissa Batty, who claimed the Student Midwife of the Year award, Mary Grace Liaz, who was named Nurse Mentor of the Year, and Nicola Howell, who won the Midwife Mentor of the Year prize.