Arrhythmia nurse specialist named RCN Nurse of the Year 2018
Posted 05 July 2018
Angela Hall receives prestigious RCN Nurse of the Year award for her dedication in achieving dramatic improvements in care
Angela Hall has been named RCN Nurse of the Year for her innovative work in improving the care and safety of patients with heart rhythm disorders.
The arrhythmia nurse specialist was presented with the award at the RCNi Nurse Awards ceremony on Wednesday 4 July in London.
Ms Hall was commended for driving the introduction of a new drug to treat rapid onset atrial fibrillation at Jersey General Hospital. The drug is not available in hospitals in the NHS.
This has helped to avoid the need for hospital admissions and has improved patients’ experience. It has also led to the introduction of other drugs for vulnerable patients on the island, meaning they no longer have to travel long distances for treatment.
Hard-working and dedicated
In addition, Ms Hall’s work has reduced the time patients have to wait to see a specialist doctor.
Patients experiencing blackouts were having to wait months to be seen by a cardiologist or neurologist, but are now seen within two weeks thanks to a rapid-access clinic for transient loss of consciousness, set up by Ms Hall.
A consultant described her as ‘one of the most hard-working and dedicated individuals I have worked with, achieving dramatic improvements for patients through her passion for innovation, her drive and her persistence’. The awards judges agreed.
Innovation award
Ms Hall was chosen as RCN Nurse of the Year for designing and delivering a range of services, transforming the care of her patients, pushing the boundaries of her role, and having the confidence and determination to secure the introduction of the new drug for her patients, as well as her evident enthusiasm and love of nursing.
is sponsored by the RCN
In addition to being chosen as the overall winner, Ms Hall won the Innovation in Your Specialty award.
On being named Nurse of the Year, Ms Hall said: ‘I know you're not supposed to say “I just do my job”, but I do – and I am so lucky to do what I do. I have a brilliant team and this is for all of them. I’m shaking so much and just want to say thank you to everybody.
‘I’ve loved every minute of this, not just this evening but the whole RCNi Awards process – it is absolutely fantastic.’
The other category award winners are:
Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award
Winner – Katie Dutton, De Montfort University, Leicester
On winning the award, Ms Dutton said: ‘I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, the luckiest student in the world. I can’t put into words how much that moment meant to me when my name was called out.
‘I didn’t expect it at all – I wanted all of the other students to win just as much because I absolutely believe in their projects and the work that they are doing, and they inspired me so much during the judging process.
‘It’s such a prestigious award. When I approach people about my sepsis project, to know that it’s got the recognition from such a big organisation in the nursing world will only strengthen my campaign to improve the care of patients with sepsis.’
Cancer Support
Cancer Nursing Award
Winner – Gillian Knowles and the metastatic cancer of unknown origin team, NHS Lothian
Ms Knowles said: ‘I have been an oncology nurse for 35 years, so to be able to promote our work is fantastic. But this win has been a team effort, alongside my colleagues Sally Clive and Rachel Haigh.
‘Cancer of the unknown primary is a tough practice. Patients in this group have not been recognised in the same way as those in other tumour groups, so if we can improve the care and support for these people that would be huge. If we can use this award as a way of helping other services adapt their work that would be great.’
Child Health Award
Winner – Trudy Ward, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Ward said: ‘I am amazed. This award promotes nursing for children with very complex needs. It really illuminates and defines what the role is and promotes the value that it can bring.
‘We are promoting nursing to commissioners, head teachers and the wider community too.’
Commitment to Carers Award
Ms Begum said: ‘There is so much good work out there. Everyone is a winner and we all have the same vision.
‘I will never, for one minute, get complacent. This will give me so much motivation. This is for the carers – carers are the hidden heroes.’
Community Nursing Award
Winner – Eric Teague-Hellon, Mitie Care and Custody, Staffordshire
‘I am absolutely amazed,’ said Mr Teague-Hellon. ‘Watching how good the other finalists’ work is and how strong they are has made it even more amazing to actually win the award.
‘I feel so privileged. Winning the award will enable me to spread the project further.’
Emergency Nursing Award
Winner – Heather Jarman, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London
Ms Jarman said: ‘I’m speechless but I’m more thrilled because it puts research into emergency nursing, a place it never was before, and it wouldn’t be possible without my extraordinary team.’
Research UK
Excellence in Cancer Research Award
Winner – Foteini Rozakeas, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Rozakeas said: ‘I hope that by winning this award I can promote this study and raise awareness about it, not just locally but on a national level.
‘It’s a very sensitive study and I feel honoured and humbled that patients come forward to donate their tissue to metastatic cancer because without it we wouldn’t be able to make improvements in this area.’
Healthcare Assistant Award
Winner – Fiona Dilorenzo, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Ms Dilorenzo said: ‘I was in such a great category with truly inspirational people and I kept telling myself “if I don’t win, it really does not matter”.
‘Everyone here is amazing at their job, whether that’s in diabetes care, end of life care, or learning disabilities – each so important.
‘I’m so overwhelmed that I have won. I did not know what to expect, but it was such a nice evening.’
Leadership Award
Winner – Yvonne Manson, Balhousie Care Group
Ms Manson said: ‘I am overjoyed. It means the world to me. It goes some way to removing the stigma about care home nursing.
‘I want people to know they can achieve an excellent career. I would encourage other care home nurses and carers to share their stories.’
Learning Disability Nursing Award
Winner – Tracey Hartley-Smith, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
‘I am absolutely thrilled,’ said Ms Hartley-Smith. ‘We have started something wonderful in the north of Lancashire for people with a learning disability or autism. We did not have children’s learning disability services in the north of Lancashire and now we have and I am really appreciative of the commissioners in the north and the faith they have put in me.
‘Now we are working on an autism spectrum disorder pathway.’
Mental Health Practice Award
Ms Bewsey thanked her team for their commitment, passion, hard work and belief. ‘Winning this award means having other people outside of our team, organisation, trust recognise the journey that we’ve been through and the improvements we’ve made for children and mental health.
‘Other organisations want to come to visit us and see the changes that the team has made.’
Nursing Older People Award
Winner – Lorraine Haining, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Ms Haining said: ‘It is such an honour to win this award – it’s a wonderful reward for the whole team, not just for me.
‘It’s a validation and acknowledgement of the work that has been undertaken and that it is making a difference. It is a fantastic opportunity to share our work with the wider world, but also to make connections with other organisations.’
Patient’s Choice Award
Ms Cairns said: ‘Patient involvement in our service has always been very important, therefore we’re delighted we have been nominated for that particular category and have won it. To get the thumbs-up from them means everything.
‘What we do is really nothing that special and it’s what hundreds of thousands of nurses are doing and struggling to do throughout the country.’
Special Recognition Award
Winner – Mark Field, Buckley Boxing Club, near Wrexham, north Wales
Mr Field said: ‘I’ll wake up tomorrow and wonder what’s happened, that’s how I feel. Flabbergasted, but at the same time I’m so glad for my team.
‘It won’t work without the team, they all give their time up for free, so it’s for the team as well as me.’
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