Restorative clinical support to nurture our nurses – The Professional Nurse Advocacy Scheme
Michelle Wakelin, Cardiac Educator and one of our Professional Nursing Advocates is keen to share the restorative clinical and pastoral support nurses are being offered at our Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals.
The Professional Nurse Advocate Scheme (PNA) is being implemented across the wider NHS system, developed by NHS England as a concerted effort to reduce burnout and inspire collaborative mentorship for nurses at all levels.
Throughout Covid-19, our nurses were faced with some of the most challenging circumstances, and we recognised the need for the PNA support scheme, to replenish energy and career satisfaction across our nursing workforce.
Michelle said: “The wellbeing of our nursing teams is integral – providing personal support alongside clinical education really helps us to ensure our colleagues are feeling happy and cared for. With the cost-of-living crisis amongst other challenges outside and inside of work, we understand that sometimes we all can use wellbeing support to allow us to feel less stressed and more confident in carrying out our roles. Using the AEQUIP Model, we’re empowering our colleagues through education and pastoral support – reassuring them that they are so important and valuable to BWC.”
Increasing wellbeing support acts as a catalyst, not only to retain our nurses and ensure they are happy at work; it also helps us to provide enhanced care for our patients and families. Wellbeing support has a tremendous impact on the performance of our nursing colleagues and helps them to feel more centred and confident in delivering quality care.
Our support involves career progression discussions, clinical education available 24 hours, 7 days a week, transformation huddles to promote open conversations, feedback-led discussions, cost-of-living crisis counselling, pastoral support and mentorship throughout their career.
Michelle concludes: “It’s been a treat to be able to work with our nurses at all stages of their careers with us – being able to show our appreciation and support is personally very important to me. It’s great to be able to nurture our nurses and see them grow and develop in confidence, in their quality of care, and interpersonally.”
If you’d like a career where progression and support are key – you can learn more about our current roles via our NHS Job Site portal. All you have to do is type in ‘Birmingham’ and find nursing roles based at our Women’s and Children’s Hospitals and our Forward Thinking Birmingham Mental Health sites.