To have been nominated, let alone shortlisted, for the Urology Nurse of the Year award really was an honour as well as a total shock. I was nominated by my consultant colleagues for quite honestly (in my opinion anyway) just doing my job so it was a real delight and privilege to be recognised for the work that I do.
I am the sister in charge of the urology diagnostic and treatment centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. I am responsible for over-seeing the running of all services that the clinic provides, for up to 60 outpatients a day. During my time in this role I have been pivotal in the growth of the clinic, developing the number of services provided to ensure cutting edge, safe and efficient patient care. I have also developed a growing team of nursing staff to support such services. This has all been undertaken within a significantly challenging environment as the clinic space provided to perform this work has been considerably too small for the population served, as recognised by the departmental Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) improvement report. I am also developing my own practical skills and I independently perform flexible cystoscopies, stent removals, intravesical botox treatments, bladder biopsies, cystodiathermy treatments, intravesical treatments with both benign and chemotherapeutic agents including hot mitomycin treatment, teaching intermitten self-catheterisation (ISC), difficult catheterisations, urodynamics, flow clinics and trial without catheter (TWOC) clinics. My urological knowledge extends to both inpatient and outpatient treatments with a background in urology ward-based nursing before this current post. This allowed me to build up a depth of knowledge regarding all urological operations. This extensive and broad-based knowledge means I am able to, and more importantly willing to, provide urological nursing advice to nurses throughout the hospital who are looking after inpatients with urological care needs as well as primary care nurses providing urological care in the community. I am currently involved in teaching the advanced care practitioners based in the hospital's emergency department how to teach patients ISC. It is hoped that this will develop a service giving patients attending the emergency department with acute urinary retention the option of ISC or indwelling urethral catheterisation.
I do my best to be a good role model for all staff within the centre and the wider urology department as a whole. I do my best to be supportive and nurturing towards all members of my team both nursing staff and junior doctors. This allows me to lead a team of health professionals who are enthused and inspired to constantly develop and improve their urology nursing skills. I try my very best to lead my team in a way that supports, encourages and allows my team members to grow within their own professional development.
Under my guidance and leadership the urology diagnostic and treatment centre nursing-team have been recognised for their patient centred work and dedication both in local trust awards and our departmental GIRFT report.
I think it's important to note that the reason I flourish in my role is thanks to the support from all my team and the wider urology community here at the trust. This award nomination really was a team effort.