Grace Nabus, who works as a nursing staff at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, was among the 24 winners of this year's prestigious Rising Star Awards from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) London.
The proud Igorota from Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet, was also the first Cordilleran to receive the prestigious award, an award recognizing nursing staff in the United Kingdom for their excellence in patient care, innovation, and leadership from London's Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) care community.
This year's winners are recognized for giving a voice to staff and patients, for empowering themselves or encouraging others to act, and for showing compassion, change, and leadership. Winners work in a range of settings including hospitals and out-of-community, and in clinical areas such as critical care, pediatrics, mental health and end-of-life care.
The Rising Star Awards is part of RCN London's celebration of Black History Month where the region has the most diverse workers in England with 44.9% of all NHS trust staff coming from a BAME background. RCN London received the most nominations in 2020, a year that has seen nursing at the forefront of London's response to COVID-19.
Rising Star winner Grace Nabus, who works at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, said in a video interview with PTV Cordillera Correspondent Alah Sungduan:
"I am pleased to have received this Rising Star Award from the Royal College of Nursing here in London. It is totally unexpected, the award has taken me by surprise because I did not expect to be awarded for doing my job," Nabus said.
Nabus said the award is also an indication of the level of respect for Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom who are full of passion and dedication and are now facing a more difficult struggle caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Igorot nurse also said the award shows that Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom are valued as individuals. And the recognition also proves that Filipino nurses are at the top, among the best in the world.
It shows that we are valued as individuals, and as a profession, it also means that the Filipino nurse is up there, amongst the very best in the world. I know that because I have been witness to the care and dedication of Filipino colleagues. I witnessed how the fear of COVID-19 can ravage one's emotions and psychological health yet we survive through our resilience," Nabus added.
Nabus is a member of Igorot UK and has been working in the United Kingdom for over 15 years. She dedicates her recognition to the Igorot community and to her family.
Congratulations Madame Grace Nabus!
