It's Advanced Practice Week - this week gives us a chance to showcase what advanced practice is and celebrate the staff we have working in the trust as advanced practitioners and trainees. Advanced practice is not new but there are relatively small numbers considering the commitment, workload and length of study it takes to complete the advanced practice programme. Learning and developing are lifelong, however, and staff working in these roles excel within their area of expertise. Currently we have Advanced practitioners and trainee advanced practitioners working in the emergency department, medicine/ACU, stroke, Paediatrics and Surgery SAU from both nursing and AHP backgrounds.
30-second interview with Nurse Consultant and Lead for Advanced Practice Siobhan Corbett:
How did you expand into advanced practice? I finished my Masters in advanced practice back in 2008 and I had been very fortunate in the right place at the right time to begin the masters programme, I had been looking to challenge myself and develop and just happened to grab an opportunity that was available not completely understanding where it would lead or the end result. Thankfully I had a very forward-thinking proactive manager and by the time I finished the masters there was great support and a framework to practice.
What challenges have you faced on your journey to advanced practice? There are always new challenges when instigating any change, especially one so innovative that it involves blurring traditional role boundaries and challenges people’s perceptions. Both individually, culturally and institutionally. However, healthcare is ever changing and so we should always be challenging ourselves to keep up or indeed be the actual driver of change. Personally, it was a very lonely and isolating place when I first qualified, so it is great that there are now many more numbers and much more support for those training and practising.
How do you see Advance Practice developing at DVH? I think that DVH is a perfect place and platform for advanced practice to thrive. There are multiple health challenges and hurdles we all face to deliver the best care, and I see advanced practice as key to contributing to meeting those challenges. Training and developing experienced staff to expand their abilities in their disciplines will result in great care received directly by our patients.
*Siobhan is far right in the photograph.