The Clinical Anatomy Teaching course, which is delivered by the University's Healthcare Practice Department in partnership with Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, has been nominated as Teaching Innovation of the Year.

The nomination is in recognition of the "high standard of teaching" – provided by Claire Kane, course leader, and Dr David Bailey, Consultant Pathologist at the NHS Trust – on the programme, which is open to final-year Bedfordshire students on placement at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

Alongside the course's nomination, former Bedfordshire nursing student, David Smith (above), is also up for Care Maker of the Year.

Afghanistan veteran medic, David now works at Redbridge University Hospitals Trust.

David had a very successful time at Bedfordshire, including when he was one of just five students nationwide chosen to speak at a key event for NHS decision makers.

"Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the student nurses, it is fantastic to see the clinical anatomy course now being recognised by the leading weekly magazine for nurses in the United Kingdom", said Claire, a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing.

Attending a series of autopsies, the student nurses are given unique tutelage through each step of the procedure by Dr David Bailey.

She added: "Student nurses who have attended the clinical anatomy teaching sessions, state they have a better awareness and understanding of anatomy and the disease process and thus are able to provide better care to patients and relatives.

"This teaching innovation is having a direct impact on patient care, and gives a unique opportunity to have an enhanced learning experience, which imparts deeper knowledge than observing autopsies or reading textbooks alone."

The Student Nursing Times Awards ceremony is being held at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.

Follow #SNTA on Twitter today to keep up with results.