A local student nurse who wowed her tutors with her innovative work has been shortlisted for an award by the Student Nursing Times.
Amy Graham, 35, has been recognised for her amazing work in developing an app that monitors fridge temperatures and improves patient safety.
Amy is undertaking her nurse apprenticeship at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and is studying with the Open University. She’s been shortlisted in the Student Innovation in Practice category.
She said: “There is some strong competition, but to have my hard work recognised and be shortlisted for this award is an achievement in itself.
Amy was nominated by her Open University tutor. She said: “I took part in the digital placement which ran alongside my leadership, management and change management module. I completed the digital placement alongside my colleague Laura Wilson.
“We were both nominated for the SNT awards by our tutor for implementing a digital change designed to improve patient safety, reduce costs associated with wasted medications and working collaboratively to improve practice and share experience and knowledge with colleagues and student peers.
“When being asked to take part in the digital placement, Laura and I felt this was a real opportunity to implement a change in practice. It is a rare opportunity for a student, however this has made us understand that anyone can make changes. We implemented the use of a digital app to remotely monitor the temperature of the pharmaceutical fridge. This allowed us to work with alongside pharmacy, digital nursing team, IT and our colleagues to create and implement a sustainable change.”
Amy says she has just come to the end of her course and is looking forward to embarking on her nursing career.
She said: “Ultimately, I want to provide safe and effective care for my patients.”
Amy has to complete a presentation in London in a few weeks’ time before the award ceremony in London on April 26.
Elizabeth Klein, Chief Nursing Information Officer at NCIC, said: “The digital health module is a unique and innovate placement designed in collaboration by NCIC digital and nursing staff to benefit our students.
“The Trust had a vision to increase the opportunities for clinical and digital staff to work in collaboration and showcase how clinical and digital work are intrinsically linked in the delivery of safe, quality care. To date, there have been 18 students who have benefited from the placement in which they undertake a small digital change in their clinical area. The change projects range from increasing awareness and digital skills to changing the way we use our digital systems, Amy’s project is one of these changes.
“After the placement, the student nurses report an increased understanding of how they can influence change and the benefits of working closely with digital colleagues.”
Amy first joined NCIC in 2010 as a healthcare assistant and started her nursing apprenticeship in 2021.
She said undertaking the apprenticeship has “completely changed her life.”
She said: “I loved my job as a healthcare assistant. I worked for 10 years on Larch A/B ward before moving to Hazel ward. I was only in post for a short period of time before I received a lot of encouragement and support to undertake the apprenticeship, which has completely changed my life.
“I love caring for my patients, promoting their independence and assisting them to make informed decisions regarding their care.”
