New team is helping improve patient care
Nurses with years of experience have been helping support and provide guidance to new nurses at Broomfield Hospital.
Six Practice Educations Nurses (PENs) have recently been appointed, shadowing new nurses to help them provide the best and safest care to patients. They also work closely with ward managers to offer action plans, advice and feedback to nurses, improving their confidence as they get used to their roles.
Gill Perry, Head of Professional and Commissioned Education, said: “We put patients at the centre of everything we do, and my team are constantly looking at ways to help student and new nurses provide the best care they can.
“Our PENs team is made up of some of our internationally-trained nurses who can relate to the experience of the nurses they are supporting; I am very proud of all they do.”
Tara Newmarch, Senior Sister on Rayne ward, said: “Since the PENs have started working with some of our newer members of staff, our nurses have had the opportunity to learn and reflect on their practice. I’ve been able to make use of their feedback and it’s helpful to know how we can help new nurses to progress.”
Following on from the success at Broomfield, Southend Hospital will soon have a team of PENs, and Basildon Hospital already has a successfully established a team of Professional Education Facilitators.