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CNO Bulletin February 2023

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE CNO - TRACEY BRIGSTOCK

Welcome to February’s edition of the CNO Bulletin.

This month, there will be a special focus on the remarkable research work which is going on across the Trust, and opportunities which are available for our Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (AHP) colleagues.

As part of our focus this month, I’m pleased to welcome two incredible contributions from Dawn Baraclough and Michelle Hartanto, exploring the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme and the published systematic review on the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare professionals of CPR decision-making conversations in the UK.

Additionally, I’m excited to celebrate one of our latest DAISY Award winners and share news of how you can get involved with the upcoming Nursing Times Awards.

 

In This Issue

 

Dawn Baraclough: My Role as a trainee Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA)

The Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme delivers training and restorative supervision for colleagues right across England. The programme was launched in March 2021, towards the end of the third wave of COVID-19. This was the start of a critical point of recovery: for patients, for services and for our workforce (NHSE) 2021.

The training aims to provide nurses with the skills to promote cultures which promote learning and development and helps to improve clinical practice. The role involves ensuring staff feel supported and helps with personal and professional development, reducing isolation, stress, and burnout in the workplace. By using reflective discussion and 1-1 sessions with staff to reflect on their experiences.

The PNA training is a masters level 7 accredited professional leadership programme for nurses at band 5 or above who are working in a patient facing role. The course requires you to pass an academic assignment, a poster presentation, and a reflective portfolio. This documentation is also useful for nurses to use when revalidating.

Working during the start of the Covid 19 pandemic and seeing the impact this had on my colleagues encouraged me to apply for the PNA training programme. Staff at this time were suffering from stress and burnout due to extra workload and often having to work in areas which were unfamiliar to them plus dealing with so many seriously ill people. Staff were also experiencing the detrimental effect the virus had on their own relatives.  Sickness in my area was extremely high mainly due to work related stress and anxiety.

Using the tools and education I have been given through the programme has enabled me to support staff through difficult times often just being someone they can speak to in an open, honest and confidential environment. The role has enabled me to have the knowledge and skills to become more resilient myself and encourages me to challenge myself and my staff.

This training has enabled me to become more confident when speaking to staff and using different methods to problem solve and promote resilience within the workforce. Staff have an open door policy to speak about issues as they occur rather than waiting for the problem to escalate.

 

Nomination criteria for the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) Role at UHCW

The PNA program was launched in March 2021 with the intention of improving patient experience through enhanced quality of care delivered by a resilient, valued, and confident workforce.

The Professional Nurse Advocate is a practicing nurse, trained to support the workforce by facilitating other nurses to lead and deliver quality improvement initiatives in response to service demands and changing patient requirements.

The primary focus of the PNA role is to deliver restorative clinical supervision but will also include career development conversations, appraisals and revalidation discussions.

The training is offered at a Masters Level 7 accreditation module. Candidates and line managers would need to meet set criteria once committed to this program.

The trust is currently supporting a total of 36 PNAs – 21 already qualified, 5 about to get their results in January and a further 10 who have accepted places for the Jan/ Feb co-hort so they should qualify May/ June time. The places are funded by HEE.

In terms of staff access it is really up to the individual PNA how they advertise themselves and their availability – They usually wear different coloured epaulettes and have a PIN badge when they qualify to highlight themselves to staff. They work predominantly in their own areas but should the need arise for somebody to have access to a PNA as a matter of urgency then they should offer a session.

I have recently been working to make the recruitment process more robust ( so managers and candidates understand their responsibilities and have draft SOP which I am hoping to finalise by the end of January). Im also now starting to gather information regarding the themes of the improvement programmes / common themes that come up in RCS sessions etc – but that is a work in progress and engagement from the PNAs is currently a bit limited.

Click here to download the pre-application form.

 

Michelle Hartanto: ‘The experiences of adult patients, families, and healthcare professionals of CPR decision-making conversations in the United Kingdom’

Having successfully completed my year as a Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow sponsored by the National Institute for Health and Care Research/ Health Education England, I published a systematic review on the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare professionals of CPR decision-making conversations in the UK.

It was a wonderful learning opportunity to lead such an experienced and supportive systematic review team including Gavin Moore (CEBIS Specialist), Professor Anne-Marie Slowther (Clinical Ethicist), Tim Robbins (Endocrinology doctor and NIHR Clinical Lecturer), and Risheka Suthantirakumar (Warwick medical student).

We synthesised all relevant studies published in the last ten years about CPR decision-making conversations in the UK to understand the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Our study identified inconsistencies in how these conversations occur, the ethical challenges that arise, and the importance of understanding patient and family perspectives of these difficult conversations. Our study was published in Resuscitation Plus, an official European Resuscitation Council-affiliated journal.

By pushing myself to take on this challenging project and learning from supportive mentors, I have grown so much from this experience and learned new skills I will carry forward with me in my career.

I was initially very daunted at the thought of leading a project with such an experienced team, but I learned the wonders that happen when the experts, with all their experience and wisdom, were encouraged to collaborate and work together. Team members’ unique strengths and perspectives were valued to create an environment where they felt comfortable speaking up and engaging in constructive discussions to reach shared agreements. I have applied this learning to my development chairing Shared Decision-Making councils.

This experience has deepened my appreciation for the systematic research approach to answer complex questions and to understand current state, as well as the importance of qualitative data in helping us understand experiences and attitudes. The publication process also supported my academic writing skills; Writing a 250-word abstract and 4,000-word manuscript to summarise the methods and findings of a 12-month project required me to be clear and concise in my writing.

I’m excited to see how this publication helps shape and inform local, regional, and national practice. I’ve been able to share this work nationally and have been invited to share this publication and help develop recommendations at a national stakeholders’ meeting. I will use this understanding of how regional and national policies and practice are shaped as a new member of the National CNO’s Strategy and Policy Shared Professional Decision-Making Council.

Our publication entitled ‘The experiences of adult patients, families, and healthcare professionals of CPR decision-making conversations in the United Kingdom: A qualitative systematic review’ can be viewed in full by clicking here.

Thanks to the learning and experiences from the Pre-Doctoral programme, supported by our Resuscitation Service and Research & Development department, in the past twelve months I have been able to publish two research papers, present at four academic conferences, and become a journal reviewer. I am also supporting a fellow colleague who is currently undertaking the programme by providing pastoral support, coaching, and signposting to resources. It is so important for nurses, midwives, and AHPs to be involved in quality improvement and research projects which impact our practice and care delivery. We as nurses, midwives, and AHPs can drive change to improve experiences and outcomes for our teams, our services, and ultimately our patients. You can access more information on the NIHR/HEE Pre-Doctoral programme by clicking here.

 

Maternity Reverse Mentoring and Talent Management Programme

  • To enable senior leaders in maternity to demonstrate personal responsibility, enhanced active listening skills, diversity of knowledge and improving communication practices through supported interventions with Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic staff.
  • To enable our maternity Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic staff to excel in career progression at their pace, respecting individual needs.
  • To improve our Workforce Race Equality Standard Indicators (e.g. representation in senior pay should be around ethnicity pay gaps, access to training and reducing wider disparities in recruitment).
  • To accelerate recruitment, retention into and development of an ethnic minority talent pipeline and offer a long-term career enablement framework for our skilled staff who are underrepresented.

Click here to find out more information.

 

International Research Priorities, in conversation with Prof Karen Strickland

Professor Brian Webster Henderson will talk with Professor Karen Strickland, Executive Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University in Australia, about international healthcare research priorities and the benefits of international research collaborations.

This event is part of the Council of Deans of Health's Research Month 2023. Anyone from a Council member institution is welcome to join. To check eligibility, please email events@cod-health.ac.uk.

 

Warwick-UHCW Partnership Accelerator Event

The University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust are hosting an in-person event from 08:00-14:00 on 6th March 2023 at the University of Warwick.

The Warwick/UHCW Partnership Accelerator Event will bring together academics and clinicians in a free form event to celebrate the success of the partnership and to shape its future direction.

Sign-up for the event here.

This event will:

  • Provide an opportunity to hear from a diverse panel of academics and clinicians leading successful large-scale joint collaborative research programmes.
  • Enable you to network and build new research collaborations.
  • Engage with senior colleagues to shape the future of the partnership.

Please forward this to colleagues who may be interested in attending. For any enquiries, please contact Researchstrategydev@warwick.ac.uk or RandDEvents@uhcw.nhs.uk.

 

Learning EPR Basics: You’re invited to a 45-minute introduction to our new EPR

Colleagues across the Trust are busy working on the design and development of our new Electronic Patient Record (EPR), ready for our go-live in October.

Before our go-live, all staff will need to be fully trained in EPR with classroom and E-Learning sessions so they feel fully confident to make the change.

Ahead of end-user training, we have many opportunities for staff to see EPR in action including:

  • Learning EPR Basics: 45-minute introduction. A range of dates and locations available.
  • Demonstration Sessions: 12 weeks of demo stations at pre-advertised locations across our sites.
  • In-Department Roadshows: Customised demos within your ward or department.
  • Simulated Workflows: Try what you’ve learned with hands-on simulated workflows.

The first opportunity is the ‘Learning EPR Basics’ presentation that starts in March. This presentation is a first look at our new EPR: see how simple it will be to use, learn the language and ask questions. We are featuring this presentation each week for 12 weeks in the CSB building, and we also have sessions coming at Rugby St Cross.

What: Learning EPR Basics. 45-minute introduction to EPR

When: See TrustNav for calendar of sessions at UH and RSX

How: Watch for advertisements on TrustNav, by email and other bulletins

Go to our TrustNav page to review available dates and register to attend. Please tell your colleagues and urge them to book their own seat.

We look forward to seeing you! For questions, contact us.

 

DAISY Award: Carly Cartwright's compassionate care recognised by grateful patient

Being in hospital can be a daunting experience for many patients, with their minds occupied by a wide variety of questions and concerns.

Making the time to listen can go a long way in providing comfort, as exemplified by our Registered Nurse Carly Cartwright.

Carly has been honoured with our latest DAISY Award for embodying the Trust’s values and offering a personal touch to her patients.

The awards, funded by UHCW Charity, celebrate the compassionate care and expertise our nurses and midwives provide on a daily basis.

Carly’s nomination read: “Carly is a kind and compassionate nurse, who is always considering the needs of her patients.

“She discusses any concerns a patient has with openness and clarity, always ensuring that the patient is listened to and that they feel their individual needs are being met.

“Carly is a wonderful nurse, because she really does care and will go above and beyond to ensure her patients are comfortable.

“During my time in hospital nothing has been too much trouble and I have always looked forward to her shifts knowing that it will be a time that I can express any concerns (no matter how small they seem to me).

“Thank you Carly for being you.”

 

Entries now open for the Nursing Times Awards

Dedicated to shining a light on the talent in the nursing community, the Nursing Times Awards are open to entries from individuals and teams, or nominations from those who wish to highlight a nurse or team who they believe deserves recognition.

This provides you with the perfect opportunity to congratulate your peers, leaders and colleagues, with submissions open until midnight on Friday 12th May.

There are more than 20 categories to choose from, click here to find out more.

If you are interested in entering, please email communications@uhcw.nhs.uk for advice and support.

 

Wellbeing support available for staff affected by devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Everyone at the Trust has been deeply saddened to see the impact of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

We know a significant number of staff will have family or connections in the countries and our thoughts are with you at this time.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal to help provide food, clothing and medical supplies.

You are also reminded that support is available to you, should you require it, through our Employee Assistance Programme. The free, confidential helpline – available by calling 0800 023 9324 – provides compassionate guidance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your EAP is now provided by our partner Vivup. Register/login on vivup.co.uk and head to the Support and Wellbeing section to access a wide range of resources.

Chaplains are available to offer support for staff for any reason either work, personal or both. Support is not faith-related unless staff members ask for that specifically and is usually confidential.

You can visit the Faith Centre at any time, someone is normally available through the day or contact us by calling the chaplaincy office on ext. 27515.

Please speak to your line manager if you have any worries or concerns. We would also ask everyone to keep an eye out for colleagues and signpost them to this information should they require it.

 

Tweets of the Month

 

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