CAREERS
on site in hospitals at weekends and evenings.’ He adds: ‘Urgent and emergency care must be brought to the same high standard across the week before the debate can even start about whether a full service can be provided at evenings and weekends.’ Nurses at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been working under a seven-day consultant-led service model for ten years. Director of nursing Debbie Reape says the decision was taken because patients’ needs do not change at the weekend. ‘It works well for our patients and staff, and we have good outcomes,’ she says. The trust’s chief matron for medicine and emergency care Elaine Henderson says nurses welcomed an 8am to 10pm seven-day consultant presence. ‘It is great for the [nursing] team for senior decision makers to be present. Patients are not waiting over the weekend for a treatment or discharge decision to be made.’ More nurse practitioners have been recruited to raise the skill mix on wards. ‘Developing senior nursing posts has enabled nurse practitioners to work in the emergency department and overnight,’ says Ms Reape NS Stephanie Jones-Berry is a freelance journalist
Kate Thornberry has the opportunity to pursue her own ideas
The value of quality research For the past three years I have been working as a band 7 clinical research nurse in the skin therapy research unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, where I manage dermatology research studies and trials. I am also studying for a master’s degree in clinical practice research (MResCP) at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London. I was in the perfect position clinically to promote the value of high quality health research. The course seemed a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more and plan my own studies. Six months into the programme, my knowledge and skills have developed. I have enjoyed the programme from
Master’s opportunity The MResCP is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and England’s chief nursing officer. Employers are reimbursed for the costs of Ms Thornberry’s salary and employment during her secondment. Kingston University and St George’s, University of London is recruiting for September entry and there are 18 fully-funded studentships. Applications close on May 16 and interviews will be held on June 4. tinyurl.com/MresCP For details of similar programmes, see www.nihrtcc.nhs.uk/cat/masters
Back care An updated and redesigned version of the popular Back in Work back pack guidance is now available from NHS Employers. The back pack is a suite of six documents outlining measures that can be taken to reduce the incidence of work- related back and musculoskeletal disorders – a major cause of sickness absence in the NHS. The advice and guidance can help protect staff from painful and often long-term health problems. tinyurl.com/BiWbackpack Appearance Matters The Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England is holding a two-day international conference highlighting current research and good practice around psychology and appearance. The event will be held on July 1 and 2 at the Wills Memorial Building,
NURSING STANDARD
day one. The opportunity to work academically alongside professionals from different clinical backgrounds has been invaluable. Another highlight has been the opportunity to pursue my own research ideas. The support of academic staff and other students has given me the confidence to formulate and present my own research ideas and appraise others’ research. I have been exploring patients’ experiences of and motivations for having a skin biopsy solely for research. This could improve the quality of patient experience and influence the design of future studies. My positive experience has pleased my course director, associate professor Cheryl Whiting. She said that I am part of a new generation of professionals who can contribute to research and make a noticeable effect on care. As a result of my training, I am in a better position to support others to understand and apply evidence in their clinical role. Dr Whiting hopes that more nurses will be inspired to apply for the programme, and I agree. I am thinking of studying for a PhD and I would credit this programme with providing me with the skills and confidence to do so NS Kate Thornberry is a clinical research nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Bristol. The meeting will cover body image, visible difference, surgery, provision of care, the role of the media, interventions, innovative research methods, weight and shape, identity and education. tinyurl.com/Appearance-matters Huntington’s disease Applications are now being taken for the UK’s first degree-level module for carers of people living with Huntington’s disease (HD). Devised by the Scottish Huntington’s Association in collaboration with the University of Stirling, the 200-hour module will be delivered part-time over 12 weeks with two study days and 11 weeks of online learning. The course is also open to family members of people with HD and interested others. The first course will run from September. Contact Gillian Hardisty at [email protected] or telephone 01786 467746. may 14 :: vol 28 no 37 :: 2014 65
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
on site in hospitals at weekends and evenings.’ He adds: ‘Urgent and emergency care must be brought to the same high standard across the week before the debate can even start about whether a full service can be provided at evenings and weekends.’ Nurses at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been working under a seven-day consultant-led service model for ten years. Director of nursing Debbie Reape says the decision was taken because patients’ needs do not change at the weekend. ‘It works well for our patients and staff, and we have good outcomes,’ she says. The trust’s chief matron for medicine and emergency care Elaine Henderson says nurses welcomed an 8am to 10pm seven-day consultant presence. ‘It is great for the [nursing] team for senior decision makers to be present. Patients are not waiting over the weekend for a treatment or discharge decision to be made.’ More nurse practitioners have been recruited to raise the skill mix on wards. ‘Developing senior nursing posts has enabled nurse practitioners to work in the emergency department and overnight,’ says Ms Reape NS Stephanie Jones-Berry is a freelance journalist
Kate Thornberry has the opportunity to pursue her own ideas
The value of quality research For the past three years I have been working as a band 7 clinical research nurse in the skin therapy research unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, where I manage dermatology research studies and trials. I am also studying for a master’s degree in clinical practice research (MResCP) at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London. I was in the perfect position clinically to promote the value of high quality health research. The course seemed a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more and plan my own studies. Six months into the programme, my knowledge and skills have developed. I have enjoyed the programme from
Master’s opportunity The MResCP is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and England’s chief nursing officer. Employers are reimbursed for the costs of Ms Thornberry’s salary and employment during her secondment. Kingston University and St George’s, University of London is recruiting for September entry and there are 18 fully-funded studentships. Applications close on May 16 and interviews will be held on June 4. tinyurl.com/MresCP For details of similar programmes, see www.nihrtcc.nhs.uk/cat/masters
Back care An updated and redesigned version of the popular Back in Work back pack guidance is now available from NHS Employers. The back pack is a suite of six documents outlining measures that can be taken to reduce the incidence of work- related back and musculoskeletal disorders – a major cause of sickness absence in the NHS. The advice and guidance can help protect staff from painful and often long-term health problems. tinyurl.com/BiWbackpack Appearance Matters The Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England is holding a two-day international conference highlighting current research and good practice around psychology and appearance. The event will be held on July 1 and 2 at the Wills Memorial Building,
NURSING STANDARD
day one. The opportunity to work academically alongside professionals from different clinical backgrounds has been invaluable. Another highlight has been the opportunity to pursue my own research ideas. The support of academic staff and other students has given me the confidence to formulate and present my own research ideas and appraise others’ research. I have been exploring patients’ experiences of and motivations for having a skin biopsy solely for research. This could improve the quality of patient experience and influence the design of future studies. My positive experience has pleased my course director, associate professor Cheryl Whiting. She said that I am part of a new generation of professionals who can contribute to research and make a noticeable effect on care. As a result of my training, I am in a better position to support others to understand and apply evidence in their clinical role. Dr Whiting hopes that more nurses will be inspired to apply for the programme, and I agree. I am thinking of studying for a PhD and I would credit this programme with providing me with the skills and confidence to do so NS Kate Thornberry is a clinical research nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Bristol. The meeting will cover body image, visible difference, surgery, provision of care, the role of the media, interventions, innovative research methods, weight and shape, identity and education. tinyurl.com/Appearance-matters Huntington’s disease Applications are now being taken for the UK’s first degree-level module for carers of people living with Huntington’s disease (HD). Devised by the Scottish Huntington’s Association in collaboration with the University of Stirling, the 200-hour module will be delivered part-time over 12 weeks with two study days and 11 weeks of online learning. The course is also open to family members of people with HD and interested others. The first course will run from September. Contact Gillian Hardisty at [email protected] or telephone 01786 467746. may 14 :: vol 28 no 37 :: 2014 65
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
