Advance Nurses in Tullamore Hospital recognised for patient-centred care
What can we do to protect ourselves and those who are vulnerable this winter?
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Week, celebrated 13 -19 November 2023, is an annual international celebration which recognises the incredible contributions of ANP professionals.
ANPs are experienced clinicians and use their advanced education and clinical practice to provide optimum patient care through caseload management of acute and chronic illnesses across healthcare settings. ANP’s work both independently and in partnership with other healthcare professionals, pending the specific patient circumstance.
The Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) mark Advanced Practitioner Week 2023 with a series of awareness stands, educating and detailing the benefits of advanced practice on patient-centred care. Featured at the presentation during the week are ANP’s in the following specialities: Ear, Nose and Throat, Tissue Viability, Diabetes, Palliative Care, Emergency Department, Older Persons, Cardiology, Oncology, Haematology and Renal.
Eileen Whelan, Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery & Quality at the Dublin Midland Hospital Group said: “This week we are celebrating the contribution that Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Midwife Practitioners have in providing high quality, person centred care across our hospitals.
Nurses and Midwives who work at advanced practice level have undertaken specialist education and supervised clinical practice at masters level. This enables this expert group to work independently or part of the wider multidisciplinary team where they provide a high quality service to include full assessment, ordering of diagnostic tests, treatment, onward referral to another specialist or discharge as appropriate and in line with agreed clinical pathways for patients.
There are over 161 ANPs & AMP’s across the seven Dublin Midlands Hospital Group hospitals and their focus is on providing care and treatment at the level most appropriate to the patient needs, inclusive of virtual clinics as appropriate.”
Louisea Bourke, Director of Nursing MRHT stated, “Advanced Nurse Practitioners provide high-quality patient-centred health care. Through the work of ANP’s patients receive timely access to specialty care services. Our ANP’s are experts in clinical practice and can provide a full range of services, such as ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests; diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions; prescribing medications and treatments; and in some circumstances, managing the full episode of patient care.”
Alice Farrelly, Frailty Advanced Nurse Practitioner MRHT and one of the ANP Week event organisers said “Because of the unique combination of medical and nursing expertise and skills that my colleagues and I have, when we review our patients, we emphasise the health and well-being of the whole person in our approach to their care. We help patients make educated health care decisions and healthy lifestyle choices that will benefit them now and in the future.”
She continues “Our patients are at times quite vulnerable due to acute and chronic conditions that they might have. There are plenty of lifestyle choices that you can make also to help you keep well, protect your health and mind yourself and your loved ones this winter.
"This time of year we see an increase in colds, RSV, Flu and other viruses. Use the coming weeks to check you are up to date on vaccinations and limit contact with people with symptoms. We recommend this HSE website page - to our patients for managing common colds, coughs, flu and earache that do not need an antibiotic and it’s a great resource for patients.”