A group of educators at Northwick Park Hospital have been recognised for helping nurses gain extra qualifications – without having to pay university tuition fees.
The team, based at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, created an in-house course that allows intensive care nurses to earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care. So far, 65 nurses have completed the training.
The initiative has not only supported professional development but also helped to retain experienced staff in critical care, something that proved vital during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lecturer Practitioner Melanconia Duval Pazzaglia, an experienced ICU nurse on secondment from the University of West London, worked with the education and intensive care teams to put the course together.
Melanconia said: “When we invest in our nurses, we invest in better care for our patients. I hope winning an award inspires others to share their own innovations.”
As part of the course, students are required to create their own improvement project. Past examples include a nurse-led antibiotic stewardship plan and a mindfulness strategy to reduce stress and improve resilience.
The programme recently won Nurse Education Provider of the Year (Post-Registration) at the Nursing Times Awards.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
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