Local hospitals host Professional Nurse Advocated qualification and celebration event

The Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) Training Programme is a clinical development scheme for Registered Nurses and was introduced in response and in recognition of the effects that the pandemic has had on NHS workers.

PNAs offer something known ‘restorative clinical supervisions’ – this means placing an emphasis on strengthening an individual’s ability to cope by providing a safe psychological space for them to discuss how they are feeling, how their profession impacts on this and how it can affect their professionalism. It was created to address challenges particularly within critical care and supporting nurses who may be at risk of burning out and in turn could have a negative effect on patient safety, quality of care, staff wellbeing, and absence rates.

So far, 16 individuals have qualified as PNAs at DBTH, with a further 13 in training. It is the Trust’s ambition to have 100 individuals successfully complete training within the coming months and years, which equates as one advocate for every 20 nurses, all with the ability to support their colleagues.

Jenny Hunt was one of the first 400 individuals in the country to receive training and has subsequently been successfully appointed into a Lead Professional Nurse Advocate at the Trust through a joint appointment with the University of Sheffield.

Jenny has been seconded into the role and will work to develop a network of trained PNAs at DBTH, in conjunction with the University of Sheffield who deliver the PNA academic programme locally. The PNA role provides a model of supervision which supports a continuous improvement process that builds personal and professional resilience, enhances quality of care, and supports preparedness for appraisal and revalidation.

Speaking about the role, Jenny said: ““Having been a nurse for 25 years, I can see that having access to a PNA would have been of great benefit as it would have prevented me from feeling burnt out at times. It would have given me the psychological support that has not particularly been there and that safe space to discuss how I was feeling, what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, and how I was going to progress.

“It has really given me the confidence to support staff and see what a difference looking after staff wellbeing will have on patient care. This is our aim, to make sure we have safe, effective practitioners, who enjoy their job and working for the Trust.”

Joining colleagues at the celebration event was the Trust’s Chief People Officer, Zoe Lintin, Kirsty Clarke, Acting Deputy Chief Nurse, and Eileen Aylott, Regional Professional Nurse Advisor for NHS England. Each successful candidate was presented with a certificate as special pin badge to commemorate their achievement.

Speaking after the event, Kirsty Clarke said: “Ensuring we support colleagues is incredibly important to us at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals particularly given the challenges of the past two years. With our participation in the Professional Nurse Advocate Training Programme, we hope to provide colleagues with the skills to facilitate restorative supervision, and all of the benefits this way of working will undoubtedly bring.

“I am confident that our new PNAs will do a fantastic job in their new role, and we hope that many others will follow in their collective footsteps, helping to further improve our Trust as a place to work, as well as receive care.”