A digital heart of gold — that’s why Natalie Simander won the Queen Silvia Nursing Award 2024

What is your relationship to Natalie?

I’m the project manager for the “Communicative” project that designed the role of Digital Assistant Nurse. The project is run by Tyresö municipality together with Cuviva and RISE and is funded by Vinnova and IoT Sweden.

I’m Natalie’s supervisor within the project, but she also has a unit manager, Cassandra Nilsson, who is partly involved in the project.

What was your first thought when you learned that Natalie had won the assistant-nurse category of the QSNA 2024?

I burst into tears when you gave me the good news. I felt incredibly proud of Natalie—she truly deserves it!

What was the decisive reason you chose to nominate Natalie Simander for the Queen Silvia Nursing Award?

The biggest and decisive reason is that Natalie dares so much—she has taken on an entirely new role that none of us really knew how it would look.

She has shown courage in many different settings over the past year while spreading joy and positivity wherever she goes. She also gave amazing support to our older test participants during this period, which was absolutely crucial for the project’s success. She’s truly incredible!

Which specific qualities or achievements of Natalie best illustrate why she is worthy of the award?

Natalie dares to experiment; she’s willing to adjust her way of working and isn’t afraid of change. She lifts the mood and has made my own job in the project so much easier and more fun.

How have you seen Natalie contribute to developing her role as a digital assistant nurse?

Natalie has helped shape the role from the very start—coming up with her own ideas and seeing more benefits than we originally envisioned. She has also initiated several in-person gatherings when the older test users of the digital tool wanted to meet face-to-face.

Which of Natalie’s qualities do you find particularly valuable in the role of digital assistant nurse?

She’s a genuine assistant nurse who, with a warm hand and great care, reaches the individual through the screen. She is supportive, encouraging, and attentive. She listens to requests, offers help, and steps in physically when needed—whether it’s technical assistance or anything else she notices in the digital forums.

In what way do you think Natalie’s work could influence the future of elder care?

When Natalie’s role and work reach more people, I believe more eyes will open to the preventive efforts a digital assistant nurse can provide. By encouraging, reminding, and supporting various health-promoting actions early on, I think we can enormously improve elder care in the future.