COMMENT
316
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he BJN Awards 2015 began with the Infection Control Nurse of the Year and we were proud to award this to Will Pooley, following a unanimous decision from the judges. Will’s decision to train as a nurse was largely a result of a developing awareness of the importance of skilled health professionals in delivering better health outcomes. This was through personal experience and as a result of time spent in India as part of a BA in International Development. Will then began training as a nurse in 2010, and subsequently undertook a diploma in tropical nursing (DTN), while gaining invaluable experience working in the emergency department. While undertaking the DTN, Will heard about the work of a small hospice in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was inspired to volunteer with the hospice for a 6-month period, initially self-funded. In March 2014 Will travelled to Sierra Leone and began working with the hospice team. Soon after, the Ebola outbreak reached Sierra Leone. Will soon became aware of nurses becoming infected and dying from Ebola while trying to provide care for the ever-growing number of its victims. At a time when non-government organisations in Sierra Leone were making plans to evacuate staff, Will made the decision to travel up to Kenema, volunteering to work alongside the nurses in the main government hospital. Will’s experience to date of the paucity of healthcare resources in one of the world’s poorest countries meant he was under no illusions as to the challenges of trying to implement the strict infection control measures required, while still caring for patients with dignity and compassion. He began to work alongside his Sierra Leonean colleagues, some of whom died, some of whom left owing to fear of becoming infected or because of pressure from family and community stigmatisation. For 5 weeks Will worked continuously, leaving only to sleep. Several of his Sierra Leonean colleagues died during this period while others left because of the very real fear of becoming infected. Attempts to persuade Will to leave for his own safety fell on deaf ears. Despite witnessing the horrendous impact of the illness, which he later spoke of at a conference, determination, loyalty to his nursing colleagues and the knowledge that his work was really making a difference to patient care kept him working there. Will was able to take the lead in helping his colleagues adopt the rigorous infection control measures required in the midst of incredibly challenging circumstances, and he was able to share the joy of those who recovered. Five weeks after his arrival in Kenema, he too was infected with Ebola and evacuated to the UK for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Thankfully Will made a swift recovery, but instead of deciding to rest and recuperate in the safety of the UK, he was already talking of returning to Sierra Leone. While planning to return, Will used his experience, and the considerable media coverage it engendered, to highlight the Ebola crisis and advocate for more resources. He was also involved in training other health professionals from the UK in the realities of infection control, ahead of their deployment to Sierra Leone. Will also donated plasma for use in the treatment of other infected healthcare workers. In October 2014 Will returned to Sierra Leone under the auspices of the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership. He continues to be at the forefront of the epidemic, both in terms of identifying, isolating and treating Ebola patients and advocating for greater awareness and more resources, both human and financial, as the Ebola epidemic has spread throughout Sierra Leone. As Will was unable to attend the ceremony, his parents, Jackie and Robin Pooley, attended in his place. They gave a heartfelt acceptance speech on his behalf and a slide show sharing photos from Will’s time in Sierra Leone was played. While Will certainly struck a chord with everyone in the room, there were many other memorable winners throughout the night. Helen Anderson, for example, won the Pressure Care award for her work using gingerbread men to train nurses in identifying pressure-ulcer risk areas. This innovative approach to nurse education is memorable and surprising, but more importantly it has had a positive effect on patient care. Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers reduced in her trust following the training and this is a perfect example of the forward-thinking, inovative approach the judges are looking for. Another example is Agimol Pradeep. In the last 4 years Agimol conducted nearly 300 events and registered around 300 organ and 700 stem cell donors from the South Asian community. This has the potential to save 25 000 lives. Agimol quite rightly won the BJN Nurse of the Year 2015 award. There were too many incredible winners and runners up to mention in this column, but look out for the ‘Winners Supplement’ and winner profiles in the coming issues of BJN for more detailed information on the fantastic nurses recognised at this year’s awards. Congratulations to all of our shortlisted BJN nurses and winners!
Julie Smith, Editor, BJN Jacqueline Boulton, Tutor, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Esther Walker, MBE, BSc, PGDip
© 2015 MA Healthcare Ltd
Editorial Board David Aldulaimi, Consultant Physician, Gastroenterologist, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Palo Almond, Academic and Research Consultant, Anglia Ruskin University Irene Anderson, Prinicipal Lecturer and Reader in Learning and Teaching in Healthcare Practice, University of Hertfordshire Russell Ashmore, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Sheffield Hallam University Steve Ashurst, Critical Care Nurse Lecturer, Maelor Hospital, Wrexham Christopher Barber, Residential Nurse Dimitri Beeckman, Lecturer and Researcher, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London Lizzy Bernthal, Research Fellow and Lead Nursing Lecturer, Medical Directorate, Birmingham Martyn Bradbury, Clinical Skills Network Lead, University of Plymouth Jothi Clara J Micheal, Group Director – Nursing, Global Hospitals Group, India Emma Collins, Senior Sister, Practice Development Lead, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust Alison Coull, Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Stirling, Scotland David Delaney, Charge Nurse, Clinical Research, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Alan Glasper, Professor of Child Health Nursing, University of Southampton Angela Grainger, Assistant Director of Nursing, King’s College Hospital NHS Trust, London Michelle Grainger, Ward Manager, Moseley Hall Hospital, Birmingham Helen Holder, Senior Lecturer, Nursing Studies, Birmingham City University Mina Karamshi, Specialist Sister in Radiology, Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead Joanne McPeake, Acute Specialist Nurse/Senior Staff Nurse in Critical Care; Honourary Lecturer/Practitioner in Critical Care, University of Glasgow Danny Meetoo, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, University of Salford Mervyn Morris, Director, Centre for Mental Health Policy, Birmingham City University Aru Narayanasamy, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham Ann Norman, RCN Criminal Justice Services Nursing Adviser and Learning Disability Nursing Adviser Joy Notter, Professor, Birmingham City University & Saxion University of Applied Science, Netherlands Anne-Maria Olphert, Chief Nurse, Director of Quality, Erewash CCG, Derbyshire Hilary Paniagua, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Wolverhampton Ian Peate, Director of Studies, Head of School, Gibraltar Health Authority Bernadette Porter, Nurse Consultant, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Trust Angela Robinson-Jones, Consultant Nurse, Gynaecology, Liverpool Women’s Hospital John Tingle, HRS Reader in Health Law, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University Geoffrey Walker, Matron for Medicine, Cardiology and Specialist Nursing Services Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Catherine Whitmore, Research Nurse, Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Liverpool Jo Wilson, Director, Wilson Healthcare Services, Newcastle Cate Wood, Lecturer, Bournemouth University, PhD student at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Sue Woodward, Lecturer, Specialist and Palliative Care, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London
Ebola survivor Will Pooley honoured at BJN Awards
British Journal of Nursing, 2015, Vol 24, No 6
British Journal of Nursing. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 193.061.135.112 on November 17, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights reserved.
316
T
he BJN Awards 2015 began with the Infection Control Nurse of the Year and we were proud to award this to Will Pooley, following a unanimous decision from the judges. Will’s decision to train as a nurse was largely a result of a developing awareness of the importance of skilled health professionals in delivering better health outcomes. This was through personal experience and as a result of time spent in India as part of a BA in International Development. Will then began training as a nurse in 2010, and subsequently undertook a diploma in tropical nursing (DTN), while gaining invaluable experience working in the emergency department. While undertaking the DTN, Will heard about the work of a small hospice in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was inspired to volunteer with the hospice for a 6-month period, initially self-funded. In March 2014 Will travelled to Sierra Leone and began working with the hospice team. Soon after, the Ebola outbreak reached Sierra Leone. Will soon became aware of nurses becoming infected and dying from Ebola while trying to provide care for the ever-growing number of its victims. At a time when non-government organisations in Sierra Leone were making plans to evacuate staff, Will made the decision to travel up to Kenema, volunteering to work alongside the nurses in the main government hospital. Will’s experience to date of the paucity of healthcare resources in one of the world’s poorest countries meant he was under no illusions as to the challenges of trying to implement the strict infection control measures required, while still caring for patients with dignity and compassion. He began to work alongside his Sierra Leonean colleagues, some of whom died, some of whom left owing to fear of becoming infected or because of pressure from family and community stigmatisation. For 5 weeks Will worked continuously, leaving only to sleep. Several of his Sierra Leonean colleagues died during this period while others left because of the very real fear of becoming infected. Attempts to persuade Will to leave for his own safety fell on deaf ears. Despite witnessing the horrendous impact of the illness, which he later spoke of at a conference, determination, loyalty to his nursing colleagues and the knowledge that his work was really making a difference to patient care kept him working there. Will was able to take the lead in helping his colleagues adopt the rigorous infection control measures required in the midst of incredibly challenging circumstances, and he was able to share the joy of those who recovered. Five weeks after his arrival in Kenema, he too was infected with Ebola and evacuated to the UK for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Thankfully Will made a swift recovery, but instead of deciding to rest and recuperate in the safety of the UK, he was already talking of returning to Sierra Leone. While planning to return, Will used his experience, and the considerable media coverage it engendered, to highlight the Ebola crisis and advocate for more resources. He was also involved in training other health professionals from the UK in the realities of infection control, ahead of their deployment to Sierra Leone. Will also donated plasma for use in the treatment of other infected healthcare workers. In October 2014 Will returned to Sierra Leone under the auspices of the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership. He continues to be at the forefront of the epidemic, both in terms of identifying, isolating and treating Ebola patients and advocating for greater awareness and more resources, both human and financial, as the Ebola epidemic has spread throughout Sierra Leone. As Will was unable to attend the ceremony, his parents, Jackie and Robin Pooley, attended in his place. They gave a heartfelt acceptance speech on his behalf and a slide show sharing photos from Will’s time in Sierra Leone was played. While Will certainly struck a chord with everyone in the room, there were many other memorable winners throughout the night. Helen Anderson, for example, won the Pressure Care award for her work using gingerbread men to train nurses in identifying pressure-ulcer risk areas. This innovative approach to nurse education is memorable and surprising, but more importantly it has had a positive effect on patient care. Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers reduced in her trust following the training and this is a perfect example of the forward-thinking, inovative approach the judges are looking for. Another example is Agimol Pradeep. In the last 4 years Agimol conducted nearly 300 events and registered around 300 organ and 700 stem cell donors from the South Asian community. This has the potential to save 25 000 lives. Agimol quite rightly won the BJN Nurse of the Year 2015 award. There were too many incredible winners and runners up to mention in this column, but look out for the ‘Winners Supplement’ and winner profiles in the coming issues of BJN for more detailed information on the fantastic nurses recognised at this year’s awards. Congratulations to all of our shortlisted BJN nurses and winners!
Julie Smith, Editor, BJN Jacqueline Boulton, Tutor, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Esther Walker, MBE, BSc, PGDip
© 2015 MA Healthcare Ltd
Editorial Board David Aldulaimi, Consultant Physician, Gastroenterologist, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Palo Almond, Academic and Research Consultant, Anglia Ruskin University Irene Anderson, Prinicipal Lecturer and Reader in Learning and Teaching in Healthcare Practice, University of Hertfordshire Russell Ashmore, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Sheffield Hallam University Steve Ashurst, Critical Care Nurse Lecturer, Maelor Hospital, Wrexham Christopher Barber, Residential Nurse Dimitri Beeckman, Lecturer and Researcher, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London Lizzy Bernthal, Research Fellow and Lead Nursing Lecturer, Medical Directorate, Birmingham Martyn Bradbury, Clinical Skills Network Lead, University of Plymouth Jothi Clara J Micheal, Group Director – Nursing, Global Hospitals Group, India Emma Collins, Senior Sister, Practice Development Lead, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust Alison Coull, Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Stirling, Scotland David Delaney, Charge Nurse, Clinical Research, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Alan Glasper, Professor of Child Health Nursing, University of Southampton Angela Grainger, Assistant Director of Nursing, King’s College Hospital NHS Trust, London Michelle Grainger, Ward Manager, Moseley Hall Hospital, Birmingham Helen Holder, Senior Lecturer, Nursing Studies, Birmingham City University Mina Karamshi, Specialist Sister in Radiology, Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead Joanne McPeake, Acute Specialist Nurse/Senior Staff Nurse in Critical Care; Honourary Lecturer/Practitioner in Critical Care, University of Glasgow Danny Meetoo, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, University of Salford Mervyn Morris, Director, Centre for Mental Health Policy, Birmingham City University Aru Narayanasamy, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham Ann Norman, RCN Criminal Justice Services Nursing Adviser and Learning Disability Nursing Adviser Joy Notter, Professor, Birmingham City University & Saxion University of Applied Science, Netherlands Anne-Maria Olphert, Chief Nurse, Director of Quality, Erewash CCG, Derbyshire Hilary Paniagua, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Wolverhampton Ian Peate, Director of Studies, Head of School, Gibraltar Health Authority Bernadette Porter, Nurse Consultant, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Trust Angela Robinson-Jones, Consultant Nurse, Gynaecology, Liverpool Women’s Hospital John Tingle, HRS Reader in Health Law, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University Geoffrey Walker, Matron for Medicine, Cardiology and Specialist Nursing Services Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Catherine Whitmore, Research Nurse, Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Liverpool Jo Wilson, Director, Wilson Healthcare Services, Newcastle Cate Wood, Lecturer, Bournemouth University, PhD student at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Sue Woodward, Lecturer, Specialist and Palliative Care, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London
Ebola survivor Will Pooley honoured at BJN Awards
British Journal of Nursing, 2015, Vol 24, No 6
British Journal of Nursing. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 193.061.135.112 on November 17, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights reserved.
