A nurse who educates health staff and helps improve care for patients at risk of skin pressure damage has won a national award – less than a year into her new role.
Danielle Burnside, who is a skin integrity specialist nurse, was presented with a trophy at the Journal of Wound Care Awards, at a special ceremony in London on Friday.
Danielle, who has been in the role for just under a year, was recognised with the Michelle Deeth New Talent Award for innovation and excellence in practice.
Her achievements over this time as a member of the tissue viability team have included working with clinical areas across the Trust to improve patient care – helping reduce the number of patients with pressure ulcer damage.
Danielle said: “I am still in shock to win this award – working in tissue viability has been an amazing experience.
“I am passionate about helping the team improve the care we give to our patients and am could not be more proud to receive this award. It is the peak of my career.
“I have always had an interest in wound care for patients – this role has allowed me to do this while also educating our staff and making quality improvements.
“It has certainly been a significant learning curve but the team here have been nothing but supportive and it has been fantastic working with them.”
Emma Hale, senior tissue viability nurse Senior Nurse Tissue Viability , who nominated Danielle, said: “One of Danielle’s greatest achievements includes highlighting clinical areas of best practice to support knowledge sharing. She has also brought pressure ulcer awareness to the forefront of all from hands on health care professionals to board level discussions and data presentation.
“Her co-ordination and leadership across four clinical areas has been exceptional – providing bespoke training, education and audit planning to individualise the outcomes for each area. Collaboratively working with each area to ensure change remains sustainable, by overcoming challenges in relation to historic practice.”
Danielle is also leading a new project which includes the introduction of the SSKIN Hand care bundle at the patient bed space.
Emma continued: “Danielle is a compassionate, caring nurse which is reflected throughout her patient engagement. Her dedication to her new role and her ability to develop her role has enabled her to achieve the current outcome in a short period of time.
“The relationship she has developed with clinicians and managers throughout the Trust continues to support by her personality and commitment to her role, patients and her wishes to improve patient outcomes – not only in relation to pressure ulcers but in continuing to deliver a high standard of care.”
Rebecca Denton-Smith, associate director of nursing who co-leads the tissue viability team, said: “We are all really proud of Danielle’s achievements. Her focus on education and teamwork within her quality improvement projects continue to have a real impact on patient care.”