20 November 08
Two nurses from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust have received the most prestigious prize in nursing.
Emma Fisher and Claire Bohr scooped awards at this years Nursing
Times Awards held on 12 November. No other hospital in the country
received two awards, making this an outstanding achievement for the
Trust.
Emma Fisher, a staff nurse at the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Emergency Department won the award for her innovative work in the
Accident and Emergency category. Claire Bohr, a Paediatric Stoma
Nurse, was recognised in the continence category for her
ground-breaking work with children with colostomies.
Emma Fisher changed the way families are approached about the
topic of donor transplants after losing a loved one. Emma became
aware nurses felt under-confident asking bereaved relatives about
tissue or organ donation as it was such a distressing time for the
bereaved. With the aid of the local tissue donation team, Emma
provided an intensive teaching scheme for nursing staff to educate
and challenge the current practice being used.
Emmas hard work has not only improved the Trusts Accident and
Emergency department but has helped save the lives of many by
increasing the number of donors.
Claire Bohr a Paediatric stoma Nurse worked beyond her scope of
her role as a stoma nurse, working with both industry and medical
staff to adapt an adult irrigation system to use with children. She
developed a bowel management programme for children in the South
west who have congenital abnormalities, bowel dysfunction and
chronic constipation.
She has taught children as young as five to carry out their own
rectal irrigation preventing them from having a surgical operation
and improving their quality of life.
After winning the most prestigious prize in nursing Emma said:
Winning the award is such a great achievement, I am hopeful that
the number of donors continues to rise so that we can save many
more lives.
Claire said: I am thrilled to receive this award and hope that
Ill be able to continue to raise awareness of this taboo subject,
and support children using the treatment.
Graham Rich, Chief Executive for the Trust, says: Its fantastic
to know that we have such hard working and talented nurses at UH
Bristol. I am also extremely pleased that many of our patients will
benefit as a result of their innovative work.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a surprise appearance at the
event to give praise to the nurses who were nominated.
