Student Innovation in Practice
Rachel Arthurs
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
For my final year, I have been working to develop easy-read materials to promote biomechanics for everyone and I hope that this inspires others to make biomechanics and other birthing centre practices accessible for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds. Biomechanics is a technique used to help prepare for labour by placing women in optimal positions for baby’s rotation and descent into the pelvis.
Charlotte Bowers
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
As an autistic mental health nurse, I have experienced first-hand the sensory nature of an acute ward whilst at work. Taking this into consideration, I have created an individualised sensory box that can be provided for new admissions to acute wards to support with their sensory needs. I have created the box while on placement on a female acute ward, with an evidence base and support from the wider multi-disciplinary team, including occupational therapists. It was created with female acute wards in mind to begin with, to hopefully be rolled out to more possibilities in the future.
Beth Dennis
Birmingham City University
I am passionate about student nurse experience/support so I have got involved in the #150 leaders programme, became a CYPStNN ambassador, created student nurse flashcards that have been given out to 650 students for free, developed student nurse led workshops and more. In 2014 I started my social action journey. I have since been involved in/continued beside my training: NHS Youth Forum, young persons advisory group at Birmingham Children's Hospital, become a sibling support volunteer for siblings of ill children and more. These experiences have helped shape me into the student nurse I am today.
Jacob Evans
Staffordshire University
Jacob Evans is everything the health service needs and so much more. Jacob ethos in health care is not to walk past a standard you can not accept. As an experienced community health care provider, Jacob joined Staffordshire University in September 2022, determined to fulfil his dream of being a registered general adult nurse. Jacob’s passion is to make a difference beyond that which a person may expect, elevating standards above all requirement, seeing things others may not, with a positive attitude to challenge and “be the difference”.
Georgina Edwards
Cardiff University
Georgie is studying mental health nursing at Cardiff University. In their roles as academic representatives, it became apparent that some students faced various challenges in their placement settings. Recognising the importance of addressing these concerns, they started a campaign: "Students Empowering Students." This campaign focused on creating a supportive and empowering environment for student nurses. They organised student-led forums that looked at ways that the university and NHS could enhance student experiences and increase retention rates among student nurses. They showcased remarkable leadership, professionalism, and dedication through their initiative approaches.
Amy Graham
The Open University
Amy designed and implemented a full NHS change to improve practice. She designed, implemented and evaluated a project to aid monitoring of fridge temperatures using an App, this was designed and coded from scratch and implemented in practice. She went above and beyond placement for this project working outside placement hours to ensure its success. She used the NHS change model effectively and was able to inspire her peers to be able to improve practice. She was able to present this to the trust which again went above and beyond her student nurse placement.
Patrina Loughran
Queen’s University Belfast
A series of posters on various genetic conditions and syndromes that are linked to learning disabilities to help improve awareness of the conditions and of learning disabilities in general. The posters highlight common signs, symptoms and health conditions that are highly associated with a syndrome in an easy to read format for healthcare professionals and the general public to read. The posters were promoted via Twitter and are currently available online and in the School of nursing and midwifery at Queen's University Belfast, plus within certain wards and units within Northern Ireland.
Harriet Penna
Cardiff University
Harriet is studying adult nursing at Cardiff University. In their roles as academic representatives, it became apparent that some students faced various challenges in their placement settings. Recognising the importance of addressing these concerns, they started a campaign: "Students Empowering Students." This campaign focused on creating a supportive and empowering environment for student nurses. They organised student-led forums that looked at ways that the university and NHS could enhance student experiences and increase retention rates among student nurses. They showcased remarkable leadership, professionalism, and dedication through their initiative approaches.
Claire Thompson
Queen’s University Belfast
Claire has created 'Makaton Monday's' across a range of social media platforms and has attracted the attention of health and social care providers, parents, members of the general public and celebrities alike. This has led to the development of a range of Makaton resources aimed at nurses and student nurses as well as service users to improve access to healthcare. As Claire has progressed through her studies she has continued to identify areas where practice could be improved to increase access for people with learning disabilities. Her enthusiasm has led to engagement in a range of innovative projects.
Abbey Williams
The Open University and Powys Teaching Health Board
An example of innovation in practice by an Open University student nurse, identified a gap in service after profiling the community needs The student set up an anxiety support clinic and developed teaching materials. These support clinics were delivered by the student under supervision of the practice placement staff (community health care team) with full support of the Health Board. The student has since moved on with her course and to other practice placements leaving the service established and meeting local population needs.