A STUDENT nurse who helped look after a newborn baby with a rare skin condition has been nominated for an award.

Emma Williamson, now starting the third year of her Children and Young People’s Nursing degree at the University of Salford, has been nominated for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s student of the year award.

Emma received the nomination after helping care for the baby in Bolton Royal Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) earlier this year.

The condition meant the child needed regular dressing with ointments and bandages and had to remain in the unit for eight weeks, causing huge distress for the parents who also had older children at home.

Emma researched the condition and, working alongside her mentor, developed a detailed care plan for the child.

She supported the family by helping wash and dress the baby, as well as providing bottle feeds.

The 32-year-old from Horwich said: “I wasn’t expecting to get nominated for this at all — when I got the letter I thought they must have made a mistake and it was for someone else.

“This really showed me that I can do things and I don’t have to doubt myself. Before starting my placement I thought nursing was all about medicine and remembering the technical skills I’d been taught, but this made me realise that it’s about much more than that – a lot of it is about how you’re able to interact with people and build up their trust.”

Gaynor Fenton, lecturer in children and young people’s nursing at the University of Salford, and Emma’s personal tutor said: “Caring for families and their babies on a neonatal unit is an anxious experience for everyone.

“Emma has demonstrated outstanding nursing care and professionalism and this has been recognised by her nursing colleagues. She has shown dedication and commitment in meeting the needs of the families in her care and she should be rightly proud of this nomination.”

Anne-Marie White, matron on the NICU at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Emma contributed significantly towards the quality of care provided to this baby and family. She clearly demonstrated exceptional commitment, integrity and professionalism and it is lovely for these qualities to be recognised in this way.”

Emma will find out whether she has been successful at the trust’s staff awards ceremony on October 27.