A number of local nurses from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust have won awards at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards 2023 held recently in the Culloden Hotel, Holywood.
Dawn Ferguson, from Banbridge, Assistant Director in the Southern Trust, won the Brownlee-Silverdale Leadership Award. As a strong advocate for the nursing profession, Dawn has created and led numerous workforce and education initiatives. Drawing on feedback, focus groups, and data analysis, Dawn influenced a review of the Southern Trust’s preceptorship programme, resulting in better support for newly-registered nurses. Her strategic leadership and collaborative working with the Southern Regional College and Open University has led to the development of a nursing programme allowing students to work in nursing support roles in the trust, as well as providing an alternative pathway to access nursing. Dawn’s nominator says she “is a strong leader and sets impeccable standards. Her commitment to her profession has directly and positively influenced nurse development and individual and team growth. She challenges perceptions to raise professional standards and promote patient care.”
Nathan Weir, from Bleary, won the Chief Nursing Officer Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Department of Health. Nathan joined the Southern Trust in 2017 as a peer support worker and began the Open University nursing programme a year later. Based in the Bluestone unit at Craigavon Area Hospital, Nathan is using his own experience as a peer support worker and leading a relaunch of the peer support in-reach team. By providing face-to-face emotional support and encouragement through a peer support hub, Nathan is promoting the message that there is hope for recovery. His nominator explains that Nathan is “passionate about how lived experience offers a unique perspective that other professionals may not have and is an inspiration to us all”. He has developed a range of activities to strengthen the quality of patient care and enhance the service provided. Nathan is helping Bluestone to become a therapeutic community, providing peer support from the point of admission to discharge. The judging panel praised Nathan’s clinical skills and his absolute determination in advocating for patients.
Julie Dudgeon won the Health Care Support Worker Award, sponsored by LV. Julie is a long-serving emergency department health care support worker at Craigavon Area Hospital and has been nominated for the dedication and positive impact she has on all those who work with her. Colleagues describe Julie as the heart and soul of the department and that she has extended her skill set both to develop herself and to support the whole team, acquiring a range of advanced clinical skills. Julie’s nominator praises her understanding of patient privacy and dignity, as well as her unrelenting advocacy on behalf of patients and their families.
Bronagh Mulholland, from Aghalee, was awarded runner-up in the Public Health Award, sponsored by the Public Health Agency. As Specialist Community Health Nurse for minority ethnic communities in the Southern Trust, Bronagh is responsible for responding to the health needs of Ukrainian refugees moving to the trust area. She has supported nearly 700 refugees, helping them to register with a GP and complete initial health screening, as well as responding to their urgent health and social care needs. Her expertise has contributed to a smoother transition into the community and significant improvements in the experiences of refugees. Bronagh has also helped to identify and support those who have experienced exploitation. Her nominator says that “She brings her knowledge and experience, alongside relevant evidence and a research base, to reduce barriers to access to health care and other services.”
Una Hughes, from Loughbrickland, Children’s Training Co-ordinator at the Southern Trust, was runner-up in the Learning in Practice Award sponsored by the Open University. Una was nominated for a project which aims to ensure that the just-in-time training required for the safe care of children with nursing needs at home, in school and in community settings is engaging, easily accessible and promotes integration. This project will transform the training for carers of children who require interventions such as enteral feeding, tracheostomy care and home ventilation, and is available 24/7. It will also have a significant impact on the lives of children with complex needs and their families. The judging panel was impressed with how Una provides accessible training for all, as well as the outstanding feedback and evaluation she has received.
Laura Spiers, from Banbridge, was runner-up in the Directors of Nursing Award sponsored by the HSC trusts. Laura, who is Children and Young People Services Governance Co-ordinator, was commended for being a strong voice for patient safety and quality within children and young people’s services, influencing strategic planning, service improvement and enhanced health outcomes. She has developed and implemented a variety of training programmes and patient safety improvements for children and young people. Her nominator says that “Laura has the ability to work collaboratively to promote a person-centred and evidence-based approach to practice, with the ability to encourage professional behaviours and challenge when safety, quality or experience is compromised.” The judging panel praised Laura’s passion, drive and capacity to motivate and inspire.
Overall winner was Vicky Burns, a nurse hysteroscopist from Antrim. Based in the Northern Trust, Vicky is the only nurse hysteroscopist in Northern Ireland and has championed the development of this service which can investigate gynaecological issues such as abnormal bleeding, diagnose conditions and check for cancer. The role has traditionally been undertaken by doctors but in recent years has been extended to an enhanced nursing role. Demand for services outweighs existing capacity and this gap is predicted to widen due to an ageing population.
Passionate about women’s health, Vicky has improved access to the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding and has been instrumental in reducing cancer waiting times for hysteroscopy.Vicky’s nominator says that her achievements are due to her “unwavering determination, dynamism and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude”. She describes Vicky as “a trailblazer and visionary who championed the development of this service and is now treating women with gynaecological conditions, delivering personalised and dignified care.”
Presenting the main award, Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health, Maria McIlgorm said: “Vicky exemplifies the very best of nursing in Northern Ireland. The commitment she has for her patients is so clearly demonstrated through her pioneering approach to finding a solution to improve the treatment of women in her care.
“I want to commend Vicky and all those recognised through the RCN awards. We are very fortunate to have nurses working across all settings in Northern Ireland who are dedicated to delivering the highest levels of care for people here.
“As Chief Nursing Officer, I urge my colleagues to be proud of what you do and the difference you make to the lives of people in Northern Ireland every day. Our health service would simply not be able to function without you.”
Commenting on the awards, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, Rita Devlin, said: “Vicky has made a huge impact in leading and developing this new service which has significantly improved the patient experience and standards of care. This nurse-led service is a shining example of the ways in which nurses across Northern Ireland are leading the implementation of transformation by reforming the way services are designed, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.
“Vicky’s determination and commitment to providing compassionate care to those most in need is inspirational. Through these awards we have heard of the extraordinary achievements of nurses and health care support workers and the impact this has had on patient care.
“It is so important that we support, value and recognise our nursing staff to ensure that we retain them in Northern Ireland. These awards truly highlight the skills and expertise we are fortunate to have and the commitment to improving services and care for patients. Congratulations to all our finalists.”
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CLANRYE NEWS 