A nurse has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for creating a training programme to improve the care of people with diabetes across health and social care.

Ruth Miller, who works for Poole Hospital, has been selected from 920 entries as a finalist in the Workforce Initiative category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2023. The award is sponsored by NHS Professionals.

Ms Miller will find out if she has won in a ceremony on Friday 10 November at Liverpool Cathedral. The overall RCN Nurse of the Year 2023, selected from all the category winners, will also be announced at the event.

Ms Miller developed the Diabetes 10 Point Training programme in collaboration with Diabetes UK, and has overseen its evolution and extension across health and social care across England.

The programme was initially implemented in hospitals, through in-person, ward-based training and train the trainer work. From 2020, delivery switched to virtual platforms. The programmes are now online, free and RCN-accredited, taking 90 minutes to complete.

Ms Miller also realised community and social care staff needed role-relevant training. Additional programmes for adult social care, mental health and community teams have been completed by more than 4,500 staff. More than 11,200 staff in England have completed the inpatient programme.

Ms Miller said: ‘It is a fantastic honour to be shortlisted for the RCN Nursing Awards.

‘A workforce that understands diabetes, whether in acute hospitals or in the community, is fundamental to the delivery of safe care of people with the condition. As the prevalence of diabetes rises it is imperative staff in health and social care settings possess role-relevant knowledge.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: ‘Our inspiring finalists demonstrate the very best of nursing and what can be achieved in some of the challenging times for the profession.

‘They highlight the wide variety of ways nurses improve the care of people at all stages of life and how they demonstrate their professionalism and clinical excellence every day, and in every setting, throughout the UK.’

The Foundation of Nursing Studies is the award’s charity partner this year. Its chief executive and current chair of the judging panel Joanne Bosanquet MBE said: ‘The quality of entries this year was superb and it was near impossible to choose our finalists from the creative and innovative work submitted. 

‘The shortlist showcases excellence and recognises the enormous difference that nurses make to people’s lives throughout the UK.’

The RCN Nursing Awards will this year be held alongside the inaugural Nursing Live, a new and dynamic event for everyone who works in nursing. Hosted over two days (November 10th-11th) at the ACC complex in Liverpool, the event will focus on both the professional and personal development of nurses at every stage of their careers and will be the first event of its kind for the sector.