A district nurse has received an award for her teaching skills.

Merris Gordon, who works for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) as a specialist practice teacher and manager, was honoured with City University’s District Nurse Practice Teacher Prize for her work with student nurses.

Edwin Soda, who nominated Ms Gordon for the prize after working with her in a placement at BEH, said: “I believe Merris deserves an award for being the most supportive, caring, and encouraging individual. The fact that I am here on the last day of the course is testament to her support and encouragement.

“She made sure she’s been there with me throughout the whole year and has aligned all her holidays with mine to make sure she is around 100 per cent of the time when I’m in practice.

“Merris has been a practice teacher for many years and all her students including myself attribute their success to her support and encouragement.”

Ms Gordon said she was “taken aback” but delighted to have won.

She said: “My mother is in Jamaica and I called her especially so I could share the wonderful news with her. She was so proud.

“I am delighted to have been recognised for the work I have been doing. I’ve been in this role for a while now, and I’m really passionate about teaching.

“The students we’ve had are bright and really motivated. Helping them succeed is really exciting – after all, they’re going to be the nurses of the future.”

Dr Caroline McGraw, a lecturer at the School of Health Sciences at City, applauded Ms Gordon for her hard work.

She said: “The practice teacher role is highly complex and requires skills in teaching, negotiating, supporting and assessing students.

“I was delighted when Edwin nominated Merris for the practice teacher of the year award; she has truly made an outstanding contribution to the development of student district nurses on placement in Enfield.”