
Two specialist health workers are the latest nurses in Hartlepool to have completed their advanced qualifications – giving them the knowledge and skills to take a leading role in individual patient care.
Jo Tarran and Gillian Waddleton, who work at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, have both completed an advanced clinical practice MSc degree at Teesside University – both passing with distinction.
The two, who are based in the hospital’s elective care unit, now have the skills and knowledge to take on new roles as advanced nurse practitioners.
Jo said: “The qualifications, something which has taken a huge amount of dedication and hard work, will allow us both to specialise in our own areas and become experts in our field.
“The course which focussed on the four pillars of advanced practice – clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research – and has allowed us to develop as practitioners by applying them to own areas of practice.
“It has given us that confidence to know we can do that and take on that autonomy when treating our patients.”
Jo and Gillian are among a group of advanced nurse practitioners working at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
The University Hospital of Hartlepool became a fully nurse-led site in April 2021. And within the first year have cared for over 1,200 inpatients on the elective surgical ward.
Each member of the advanced nurse practitioner team has extended nursing skills allowing them to:
- Prescribe medication
- Authorise blood products
- Provide acute illness intervention in addition to post-operative care
Jo added: “The Hartlepool hospital site is a fantastic place to care for patients – being the Trust’s specialist centre for elective care.”
Gillian added: “We now hope to consolidate our learning by continuing to develop an already well established service here at Hartlepool to provide excellence patient care.”