Trust celebrates its nurses in special ceremony

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) celebrated all things nursing at a special event on Friday 11 May 2018 to congratulate their nurses and recognise all of their hard work.

Over 250 nurses and midwives attended the event, which was held just before International Nurses Day. It featured speeches from nurses at all levels on their particular area of expertise, including topics as varied as improving patient flow and administrating medicine to postnatal babies.

The Trust also held a presentation ceremony for nurses who had been registered for over 40 years.

Cheryl Pascoe, who works as a staff nurse at the Horton General Hospital and received her long service award at the event, has been a nurse since she was 17. She said: "I'm very proud to be a nurse, and always have been. It's great to have that acknowledged - all nurses work extremely hard.

"I'm just as excited about this job as when I started all those years ago. I've seen and experienced a lot, but I'm still learning - there's always new challenges, and always more to know. The health service is always evolving. I spent most of my career at the Horton - it's a brilliant place, incredibly friendly and warm, and still is to this day."

The event also launched the Daisy Foundation awards, a new scheme that allows patients, their families, and nursing colleagues to nominate a nurse or midwife who has made a real difference through outstanding clinical care.

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse for the Trust, said: "We had a really fantastic day at our nursing event - it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate and congratulate our nurses. They're incredibly dedicated to our patients, and I'm so proud of them.

"By sharing our knowledge and experience, we'll continue to provide the best compassionate care and support our nurses at every point in their time with us - whether they're newly-qualified or have been with us for over 40 years."

The event ended with a graduation ceremony for nurses who were awarded a postgraduate certificate in 'Leading Compassionate Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery'. Created in 2016, the certificate created an opportunity for senior nurses and midwives in the Trust to enhance their leadership skills and gain an academic qualification. The graduates' quality improvement projects have already had a significant impact on nursing and midwifery care, team work, and communication.

Sam Foster said: "Our graduates have earned this qualification while juggling the demands of a work and home life. It's a huge achievement for them to successfully complete this qualification, and a testament to their hard work and dedication."

Pictured: OUH Chief Nurse Sam Foster