When Sturdy was awarded the British Geriatric Society Presidents Medal in 2011, she was the first ever nurse to receive such an honour. From February 2020, Sturdy worked as an advisor on social care to the Chief Nursing Officer. In December 2020 she was announced the UK's first Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this role looked to transform the experiences of the 430,000 UK people living in care homes. She looked to champion the interests of social care nurses to government, and provide leadership to the workforce. The post was made permnanet in September 2021. In 2022 she launched the Adult Social Care Awards.
