8 April 2011
Professor Sarah Hewlett from the University of the West of
England, whose clinical practice is based at the Bristol Royal
Infirmary, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal College of
Nursing (RCN). It is the first time that this prestigious title has
been awarded to a nurse at the University of the West of
England.
Professor Hewlett spent the first 14 years of her nursing career
in clinical care, with many years as a ward sister. She then moved
primarily into research, whilst continuing to provide a small
clinical practice at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and now heads up
an internationally recognised research group specialising in
rheumatology - adaption, coping, flare, managing fatigue and an
interest in measuring patient reported outcomes.
Sarah and her UWE team of six researchers are based with
collaborators from the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust and the University of Bristol who work together to provide
integrated rheumatology care, education and research. Their work on
fatigue has led to international consensus that fatigue must be
measured in all clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis, putting it
firmly on the international research agenda.
The award will be given at the RCN Congress on 10 April in
Liverpool. Professor Hewlett says, Being elected a Fellow is
recognition of a substantial contribution to the nursing
profession, which for me, relates to my research on fatigue, the
patient perspective and collaboration with patients in
research.
Im delighted to have received this recognition from my peers. Im
hoping that the award will inspire undergraduate nurses to see that
it is possible to incorporate research into their clinical nursing
careers. UWE has been very supportive in facilitating the work by
our research unit and Im also delighted for University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which has supported our research with
the patients at the BRI.
This award reflects the work of the whole team, and also that of
our patient collaborators. Our research unit places patients at the
centre of all work and patients sit on all our research project
committees as equal partners. Their contribution to our research
methods and findings is critical.
We are very lucky that we are based at the Rheumatology Clinic
at the BRas this makes patient centred research achievable. Later
this year, I will be giving the keynote lecture at the RCN
International Research Conference, on collaboration with patients
in research, along with Pam Richards, one of our local patient
partners. We are both delighted to have the opportunity to share
good practice.
Professor Robin Means, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health
and Life Sciences at UWE, said, Professor Hewletts work is
groundbreaking in the way it puts patients at the centre of all
research projects. We are thrilled that she has received this well
deserved recognition.
Kate Tompkins, Regional Director of the RCN, said, We continue
to enjoy close working relationships with the University which we
value highly. I am delighted that Professor Hewletts contribution
to nursing and patient care has been recognised by the Royal
College of Nursing.
ENDS
