Chance to reward Mansfield and Ashfield’s nurses

For we have teamed up with Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Doundation Trust for their 2015 Nurse Of The Year Awards.

Dedicated and hard-working, the nurses make a real difference to patients’ lives. So we want to know whose exceptional care and compassion has touched your family.

Here we look at the work of the Falls Prevention Lead Nurses, Joanne Lewis-Hodgkinson andGeraldine Edwards

The Falls Prevention Lead Nurses at the trust, Joanne Lewis-Hodgkinson and her colleague Geraldine Edwards, both have nursing careers spanning over 30 years caring for elderly patients at King’s Mill Hospital.

Using their expert knowledge and experience, their role is to educate colleagues, patients and the local community about falls prevention

Joanne, previously ward sister on Ward 41 (care of the elderly rehabilitation) at King’s Mill, said: “As there are more people living beyond age 65 than ever before, it is crucial we raise awareness of how to remain healthy and able bodied for as long as possible.

“The staff on Ward 41 have worked together for many years and are all completely dedicated to providing the highest standard of patient care. It’s now very rewarding in my new role to share all my knowledge and experience more widely. I aim to ensure that all our elderly patients consistently benefit from this high level of care in every ward and department 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Joanne and Geraldine’s work currently involves looking at introducing anti-slip mats to help prevent falls, as well as movement sensor alarms hip protectors and remote control nurse alarms. Their innovative new initiatives also include providing emergency grab ‘falls boxes’ on all wards and departments, containing all essential equipment required to care for a patient in the event of a fall.

In addition to a very low staff turnover rate on Ward 41, and an excellent patient satisfaction rating, Joanne celebrated many successes in her previous role as ward sister. In particular she led the creation of a reminiscence room which opened on the ward last July.

The room is a homely lounge with a comfortable settee and armchair, where patients can social and reminisce about their past. It is furnished with a wide range of old fashioned items, kindly donated by members of the public, and ward staff have found that patients respond very positively to this change of scenery. As a further development, reminiscence boxes are currently being created for nurses to take to the bedside of less mobile patients.

“I find my nursing role so rewarding, as you can really see the positive difference you are making to people’s lives,” said Joanne. “I am lucky to work with so many inspiring colleagues, who all deserve a Nurse of the Year Award. They are always enthusiastic about new ways of working to improve patient care, and all work together to make things happen. “

Lead Nurse for Practice Professional Development, Andrea Clegg, said: “Joanne is really passionate about patient care and uses this to drive change and improvements. Her ward team was built on a solid foundation of high standards and visible leadership, which she has carried through into her new role.

“Recognising the loyalty and commitment of nurses like Joanne is exactly why we hold the Nurse of the Year Awards. The Trust’s nurses, who work above and beyond for their patients every day, are at the heart of everything we do at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. It would mean so much to them to receive a nomination.”

Nomination forms are available at the hospitals and also online at the trust’s website, www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk,

Alternatively, you can write to Nurse Of The Year Awards, Communications Department, Trust HQ, King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton, Notts, NG17 4JL. Please include in your letter the name of the person or team you are nominating, the ward or department and hospital site where they work, and also explain why they deserve to win an award. Don’t forget to attach your contact details.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 17th April. The awards will be presented during the trust’s Celebrating Nurses Week from 11th to 15th May.