A Scottish nurse who risked her life to treat patients from both sides of the Libyan conflict has won the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2012.

Karen Graham, from Clydebank, was presented with the award in recognition for putting the care of patients ahead of her personal safety.

She said: "I was completely overwhelmed just to be nominated for the award so to win it is beyond my wildest expectations, particularly when you consider the other nominees on the shortlist. I'm just a nurse doing a job that I love and that doesn't change when you suddenly have to deal with civil war and heavy fighting in the vicinity of the hospital which resulted in us caring for the casualties of the conflict rather than the oil workers we were used to looking after."

Karen, 41, now lives in Libya and is the nursing services manager at the Oil Clinic in Tripoli. She describes the local people "as some of the warmest" she has ever met. She added: "I could never have upped and left them when they were most in need. It was one of the most challenging times of my life but was also one of the most rewarding. I'm really glad I stayed."

The Burns Award was launched in 2002 and recognises a group or individual who has saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through personal self-sacrifice, selfless service or charitable work. The ceremony was held in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in his home town of Alloway, Ayrshire. The winner receives the equivalent of 1759 guineas, signifying the year of the Bard's birth and the coinage in circulation at the time.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil presented Karen with the award. He said: "The award is an important celebration of charity, humanity and selflessness, providing an inspiration to people across Scotland and around the world. Akin to Robert Burns' own values, it demonstrates that anyone can make a difference, whether in their own community or further afield. Karen showed huge dedication and worked tirelessly to deliver the highest possible care to the people of Tripoli in extremely difficult circumstances."

After studying at the Glasgow South College of Nursing she spent four years as an army nurse, serving in both the Falklands and Germany. She headed to Libya in November 2010 and immediately started at the Oil Clinic, a district hospital looking after the workers of oil companies in the area. In August 2011, the hospital became the centre for trauma medicine during the Libyan conflict. While many people left the city, Karen and two other British nurses remained at the hospital, gaining the respect of both colleagues and patients.

Karen said: "Things were really frantic for a while with the two sides at war fighting each other from either side of a bridge right next to the hospital. We were stranded at the compound for around ten days without running water and electricity and we couldn't contact anyone to let them know we were OK. Of course, it was scary at times especially when you knew just how close the fighting was. I actually discovered a bullet hole in my bedroom window but fortunately was at work when it came through, but it really hit home what was happening right on our doorstep.

"So many amazing things have come out of my going to Libya - I met my fiance, I've received this fantastic award and I can now also make bread - not bad going in just over a year!"

Also nominated for the award were the Deaf History Review Editorial team and Sam Jennings, a British midwife who saved the lives of thousands of babies and their mothers in the Congo.