A “selfless” Moray nurse has been nominated for a top award after helping a patient with mental illness turn her life around.
Nadine MacArthur, who works at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, has been a mental health nurse for 18 years.
In that time one patient, Jo Mullen, has been particularly touched by her care and has now recommended her for the Royal College of Nursing accolade.
Ms Mullen has borderline personality disorder, but says that Ms MacArthur’s approach to therapy has made her feel “empowered and independent”.
They met when Ms Mullen was first admitted to the Elgin hospital’s psychiatric ward in 2003.
As her condition worsened in the years thereafter, she was forced to give up her job.
Ms Mullen said: “It has always been important for me to be engaged in purposeful activity, and Nadine appreciates this.
“She encouraged me to draw upon my skills and experience, as well as my knowledge of borderline personality disorder, to help others.”
In late 2014, they decided to work together to assist people freshly diagnosed with the illness to come to terms with it.
Ms MacArthur helped Ms Mullen to write a booklet about her experiences, detailing ways she had learned to cope with her symptoms.
More than 650 copies of the book have since been distributed across Moray and beyond.
The pair continued their partnership by devising treatment programmes for people with the disorder and others like it.
Last year, they visited Dundee to give a presentation about their scheme to a research group and have since provided more talks in Aberdeen and Fife.
The initiative is aimed at “promoting positive attitudes among mental health staff”.
Ms Mullen’s anxiety prevents her from using public transport, so Ms MacArthur has sacrificed time with her family to drive them to the appointments and stay overnight.
Ms Mullen added: “During these times, she has used her knowledge of me to avoid situations that cause me to feel anxious, and has helpfully explained to other professionals that my anxiety can cause me to be a bit grumpy.
“Her willingness to work in a supportive way helps me experience the joy of achievement, despite the daily difficulties I face.
“I am so grateful to Nadine for taking a risk to do things differently. We make a great team.”
Ms MacArthur said she was “touched” when she found out Ms Mullen had put her name forward for recognition.
She said: “It was lovely of her to take the time to write about it and nominate me for the award.
“She did not tell me she was going to do it so it was quite a surprise.”
Ms MacArthur is a finalist in the “patient’s choice” category at the Nurse Awards 2017, which is the profession’s top prizegiving event.
The NHS Grampian employee will travel to London on Friday, May 5, to find out if she has won.
Voting is open until Friday, April 28, at www.nurseawards.co.uk
