A STUDENT has the makings of a first class nurse.

For first-year nursing student Donna Rice has been named the Royal Bolton Hospital's employee of the month after her professionalism when an emergency situation unfolded while she was on a work placement.

The University of Salford student from Deane was chosen by the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust for the honour after she helped deal with a situation in which two people had to be treated for heart attacks on her ward.

Donna was working on a student placement at Royal Bolton Hospital when the incident occurred.

She was nominated for the award by one of the specialist nurses for her maturity and professionalism as the team worked together.

Donna, a mature student, said: "I just did what anyone else would have done at the time, but it is very nice for them to recognise students because we do work very hard on the wards."

Marie Forshaw, Deputy Director of Nursing at the Trust said: "I was delighted with the recognition of one of our students through this award.

"Donna showed excellent leadership skills, working with the other students on the ward to ensure that all the patients on the ward were alright."

Karen Higginbotham, lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of Salford, added: "Donna showed a level of leadership which for a student nurse was outstanding and which you would expect to see in an experienced member of hospital staff.

2It’s amazing when you think that she’s only just coming to the end of her first year of training. But she’s an incredibly level headed student so it doesn’t come as any surprise that she stayed calm and just got on with it."