A student nurse from North Cumbria has been shortlisted for an award by the prestigious Student Nursing Times.

Amy Graham, who is currently completing her nurse apprenticeship at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC), has been recognised in the Student Innovation in Practice category.

Ms Graham, 35, was applauded for her development of an innovative app that remotely monitors fridge temperatures to improve patient safety by preventing medication spoilage.

She was nominated for the award by her tutor at the Open University, where she has been continuing her studies while working at the NCIC.

Amy said: "There is some strong competition, but to have my hard work recognised and be shortlisted for this award is an achievement in itself."

The project was part of a health module, designed by the NCIC to allow their students to make small digital changes in their clinical area while working with digital nursing teams and other IT staff.

Amy's app is a product of such collaborative work, which she could accomplish with her colleague, Laura Wilson.

Both were nominated for this year's SNT awards.

Amy said: "We were both nominated for the SNT awards by our tutor for implementing a digital change designed to improve patient safety, reduce costs associated with wasted medications and improve practice and share experience and knowledge with colleagues and student peers."

Amy first joined the NCIC in 2010 as a healthcare assistant and started her nursing apprenticeship in 2021, an experience which she said has "completely changed her life."

Elizabeth Klein, chief nursing information officer at NCIC, said: "The Trust had a vision to increase the opportunities for clinical and digital staff to work in collaboration and showcase how clinical and digital work are intrinsically linked in the delivery of safe, quality care.

"To date, there have been 18 students who have benefited from the placement in which they undertake a small digital change in their clinical area."

Amy is now due to complete a presentation in London in a few weeks’ time before the award ceremony on April 26.