Open University Nursing graduate wins award at British Education Awards

On the 30th January, Open University Nursing graduate David Ferran won ‘Northern Ireland Degree Category’ at the British Education Awards in London.

The event was the first of its kind and honoured students from across the UK for exemplary academic and extracurricular achievement. 

The Open University nominated David for this award due to his academic success over the past year.  In 2016, David won the Royal College of Nursing NI, Student Nurse of the Year as well as achieving a First Class honours degree BSc Adult Nursing.

Nominated for the RCN award by Open University Practice Tutor Eleanor Weir for his academic excellence, David, in his final year of nursing study carried out a research project regarding skin surgery and communication with patients in a Dermatology Outpatient Department. He devised an information leaflet as part of his project to ensure patients would fully understand their treatment.  His project also investigated the need to translate patient information leaflets in to many languages, ensuring all patients had access to information, advice and support on an equal basis before treatment.

David explains how he felt about winning the award during the British Education Awards ceremony, “I'm very honoured to have been nominated by The Open University and to have won the Northern Ireland regional degree category.

As someone who hadn't studied in ten years to now have achieved two distinctions in my final year and a first class honours degree in Nursing I’m very shocked, although my success is attributed to the support I have received from The Open University and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

This award has increased my confidence as a newly registered nurse and a lifelong learner and I hope my knowledge can be used to improve the care I provide to patients.”