Professional Nurse Advocates in Critical Care - Background.
CC3N have been pivotal in the roll out of Professional Nurse Advcoate training for 436 Critical Care nurses, liaising wit NHSEI, HEIs and Critical Care units to ensure there is a PNA on every critical care unit in England.
Pre-Covid data showed that a third of Critical Care Nurses experienced severe burnout, with 86% experiencing one of the three classic symptoms of exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment. (Moss et al. 2016).
The pandemic has exacerbated this exponentially leading to a desperate need to prioritise the mental health and well-being of nurses and reduce emotional burnout, (Nicki Credland, Chair of the BACCN, 2021).
In response, Ruth May (Chief Nursing Officer for England) announced in March 2021 the immediate role out of the Professional Nurse Advocate Programme in England starting with 400 critical care nurses…… meaning that there will be two PNAs in every critical care unit in England. Since April 2021, the programme has been rolled out to more than 1,000 nurses from adult acute mental health, community, adult learning disabilities and children and young people. The aim is to have 5000 PNAs, across all specialties in England by April 2022.
The Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) is a qualified practising nurse who has undertaken a Level 7 PNA accredited Programme that has been developed around the A-EQUIP model (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) initially introduced into Midwifery in 2017. The A-EQUIP model includes Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS), which research shows has a direct impact on recruitment, retention, staff engagement, compassion fatigue and reducing sickness. The model also has an emphasis on Education and Development and Quality Improvement. All of which will have a positive impact on patient safety and experience.
The benefits of PNA’s are summarised by Petit et al (2015) and intend to be demonstrated by the implantation on PNA’s within critical care at LTHT.
Pre-Covid data showed that a third of Critical Care Nurses experienced severe burnout, with 86% experiencing one of the three classic symptoms of exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment. (Moss et al. 2016).
The pandemic has exacerbated this exponentially leading to a desperate need to prioritise the mental health and well-being of nurses and reduce emotional burnout, (Nicki Credland, Chair of the BACCN, 2021).
In response, Ruth May (Chief Nursing Officer for England) announced in March 2021 the immediate role out of the Professional Nurse Advocate Programme in England starting with 400 critical care nurses…… meaning that there will be two PNAs in every critical care unit in England. Since April 2021, the programme has been rolled out to more than 1,000 nurses from adult acute mental health, community, adult learning disabilities and children and young people. The aim is to have 5000 PNAs, across all specialties in England by April 2022.
The Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) is a qualified practising nurse who has undertaken a Level 7 PNA accredited Programme that has been developed around the A-EQUIP model (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) initially introduced into Midwifery in 2017. The A-EQUIP model includes Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS), which research shows has a direct impact on recruitment, retention, staff engagement, compassion fatigue and reducing sickness. The model also has an emphasis on Education and Development and Quality Improvement. All of which will have a positive impact on patient safety and experience.
The benefits of PNA’s are summarised by Petit et al (2015) and intend to be demonstrated by the implantation on PNA’s within critical care at LTHT.
- Facilitates professional resilience
- Supports provision of high quality care
- Identifies areas for improvement
- Develops the advocacy role of nurses
- Underpins strategies to develop and invest in nurses
- Provides flexibility for local implementation
- Supports revalidation
- Improves sickness and absence rates
- Improve individual well being
- Decreases stress and reduce burnout
- Increases enjoyment in work and job satisfaction
- Increases retention and staff feel valued
- Improves working relationships and team dynamics
- Enhances management of work life balance
Celebrate Success....
Below is a selection of Critical Care PNA's poster presentations submitted as part of their PNA training programme. Kindly shared with permission.
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Useful resources
NHSE/I PNA webpage gives links to Regional PNA Leads, National PNA updates, PNA Training and further contacts and resources.
NHSE/I PNA webpage gives links to Regional PNA Leads, National PNA updates, PNA Training and further contacts and resources.