A nurse apprentice praised for her compassion and clinical excellence has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Emma Dowsett, a Registered Nurse Degree Apprentice in Learning Disability Nursing, met judges last month to be interviewed for the 2026 Student Nursing Times Awards.
Emma works at Rainbows Children’s Hospice in Leicestershire, where she supports children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families while completing her degree apprenticeship at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
When she qualifies next year, Emma will become the first Learning Disability Nursing apprentice to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council register through DMU, marking an important milestone for both DMU and the profession.
Emma said: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted. Working at Rainbows Children’s Hospice has shown me how important compassionate care is for children with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
“The apprenticeship has allowed me to learn in practice while studying, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be supported by amazing colleagues and lecturers who have helped me grow in confidence and skills.”
Feedback from clinical placements highlights both her professionalism and the empathy she brings to providing care. Alongside her work in practice, Emma has achieved strong academic results across her apprenticeship programme, consistently gaining high grades while also completing demanding placements.
Her tutors describe her as a reflective learner who is motivated to understand the reasoning behind clinical decisions and how evidence can improve care.
Sarah Kearney, senior lecturer in adult nursing at DMU, said: "Emma represents the best of the nursing profession. Emma has shown exceptional commitment throughout her apprenticeship. She combines strong clinical knowledge with genuine compassion and professionalism, which makes a real difference to the people she cares for.
“As DMU’s first Learning Disability Nursing apprentice, she has also helped demonstrate the value of degree apprenticeships in developing highly skilled nurses who are ready to make an impact in practice.”
Emma’s apprenticeship has been supported by Rainbows Children’s Hospice, which invested in her four-year training programme.
The hospice team say they have seen Emma grow in confidence and autonomy throughout her apprenticeship, developing into a valued member of the multidisciplinary team caring for children and families.
Anne-Marie Rosak, Head of Hospice & Community Services at Rainbows, said: "We are all so proud at Rainbows to hear Emma has been nominated for Apprentice Nurse of the year in the Student Nursing Times Awards 2026. Emma has been a credit to Rainbows since she started her nurse training and is doing incredibly well. We look forward to Emma returning to Rainbows full time to start her career as a Band 5 Learning Disability Nurse."
As the first apprentice in this field at DMU, Emma has also become a role model for other learners pursuing non-traditional routes into nursing. Her journey demonstrates the impact that degree apprenticeships can have in developing skilled professionals while enabling people to learn in real-world healthcare settings.
The Nursing Times Awards celebrate excellence in nursing and healthcare across the UK. Winners will be announced at a ceremony later this year.
Posted on Thursday 2 April 2026