Congratulations to nutrition clinical nurse specialist Dorcas Boamah, who has been named as one of the Royal College of Nursing’s Rising Star Awards winners.

The Rising Star Awards are part of the Royal College of Nursing’s Black History Month celebrations, and they recognise excellence within London’s BAME community.

Dorcas said: “Finding out that I had won this award was a complete shock, but a lovely one – working through the pandemic was such a challenge, so it means a lot to be recognised for my hard work.

“I volunteered at the Nightingale Hospital during the pandemic, and had the experience of working in ICU for the first time. It was a very unusual environment for me to be in – we got a lot of support and a lot of training, but it was still very challenging. Every day would bring a new experience and a lot of mixed emotions.

“There were days when I felt great anxiety but when you are nurse you show up and do your job –not because it is work, but because every nurse has a passion for compassionate care. This is the reason we show up and do our jobs well.”

Dorcas was nominated by Natalie Forrest, chief executive of Chase Farm Hospital, after the two crossed paths at the Nightingale Hospital. Natalie shared the reasons behind her nomination:

“Dorcas is charismatic, positive and oozes a fun personality - but she is also hardworking, and really demonstrates values that make her stand out.

“She wants the best for her patients and is willing to go the extra mile for them and her colleagues. She has all of the characteristics I would look for in a leader.”

The Rising Star award is just the start for Dorcas, who is now pushing herself to pursue leadership. She said:

“Working for six weeks at the Nightingale really showed me what I’m capable of, and that I can adapt to change if I need to. It has inspired me to push myself further, and I’ve started doing a Masters in Leadership – I’ve had fantastic support. Winning this award shows me that I’m moving in the right direction.”

The trust will be celebrating Black History Month with a series of virtual talks as well as networking opportunities and listening events for staff.