Nurse Awards 2009
28 Aug 2009
Nine of NHS Direct’s team of dedicated nurses have been awarded the title ‘Regional Nurse of the Year 2009’, each showing exceptional examples of how delivering first class patient care is at the heart of NHS Direct’s service.
Now in its second year, the awards are open to all NHS Direct nurses and provide an opportunity to recognise the fantastic work done by all of our nursing staff.
This year, awards were given to a nurse from each of NHS Direct’s nine regions, who were nominated by their colleagues who saw firsthand their winning ways.
The panel of judges, which was made up of NHS Direct staff, were looking for nurses who had made a real difference to patients’ experiences and looked favourably on applications which showed nurses who went the extra mile to improve practice, support colleagues and make patients feel really valued.
The winners
(including highlights from their nominations)
Jacqueline Orpe, West Midlands region
‘Her professionalism and empathy really makes a difference!’
Christine McDonald, South East region
‘She is the most enthusiastic, optimistic and professional nurse that I have the pleasure of working with…. Her calm and rational approach to her duties coupled with a caring supportive manner never falters.
Serena Carr, East region
‘An individual that epitomises what a nurse should be. She is extremely kind and thoughtful and always shows empathy when talking to patients.’
Tendai Mhizha, London region
‘She always has a smile on her face which makes her very approachable… She is passionate about her job.’
Beverley Jenkins, South West region
‘She is the most dedicated nurse I have ever worked with… and is a fantastic role model to any new staff.’
Christine Lawrence, Yorkshire and Humber region
‘She is never too busy to help, advise and support staff across all areas of the business... she will always go that extra mile to help.’
Diane Wilson, East Midlands region
‘She is quietly wonderful; calm, cool and a pleasure to work with. “Best practice” in action.’
Angela Dowds, North East region
‘Such is the standard of her work that what in others may seem exceptional is taken as standard practice from her.’
Eric Roe, North West region
‘He displays complete competency and awareness in his role. He is reassuring and supportive to all his colleagues.’
Helen Young, Chief Nurse at NHS Direct and one of the judges, says:
“These awards are about recognising the little things that improve the overall quality of the patient’s experience.
All our staff work tremendously hard - something we saw firsthand recently when dealing with the unexpected call demands associated with swine flu. Staff rose to the challenge brilliantly and showed real dedication; some even coming in early so that they could get up to speed on the latest developments before going on shift. These awards are a great opportunity to say thank you to our nursing staff.”
All NHS Direct staff were eligible to nominate a nurse. 75 nominations were received, each one including a supporting summary of why the nominated person was a deserving winner.
A word from two of our award-winning nurses
Beverley Jenkins, South West region
Beverley has worked for NHS Direct since 1999. Since qualifying in 1971 she has work in a variety of roles, mostly paediatric units. Prior to NHS Direct she worked in a community hospital with a minor injury unit as a Ward Sister for 21 years.
Beverley says:
“When I first heard about NHS Direct I was very excited by the concept that the public could have instant access to health advice from the comfort of their own living room. I knew immediately that I wanted to be involved.
“I am passionate about people having access to good health advice and really enjoy working for NHS Direct. The most enjoyable part for me is taking a patient’s medical history, getting a picture of their individual needs, and then on the information gathered helping the caller; often giving them the freedom to manage their own care.
Career highlights
“I can remember a call recently which was challenging but fulfilling. It involved a young couple, and was passed to me via the ambulance service. The couple had only been in this country for three weeks and needed to use the translation service.
The young lady was pregnant and after assessment it was evident that she required an urgent GP referral. They spoke no English and did not know all of their address although we did identify a nearby station.
I tracked down her local out-of-hours GP service and they agreed to send a taxi to meet the couple and take them to the out-of-hours clinic where the lady could be assessed by the doctor.
“It’s hard to pin down one career highlight but I get a real buzz when the advice I have given relieves a patient’s anxiety and by the end of the call they are a lot calmer than when it began. Just a caller saying ‘thank you’ at the end of a call is also really rewarding.”
Tendai Mhizha, London region
Tendai has worked for NHS Direct for seven years and is now a clinical team leader. Before NHS Direct she worked in various clinical settings, including caring for the terminally ill with Marie Curie. Before her nursing career she worked for the National Railways for 15 years.
Tendai says:
I am passionate about guiding and motivating my team to maximise their performance and achieve their targets. I aim to always be supportive, approachable and part of the team. I enjoy the varied challenges and unexpected issues that working for NHS Direct brings.
Tendai Mhizha
