Children’s nurse wins Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award
Published: 07 June 2007
Karen Orr, from Newtownabbey, was celebrating tonight, Thursday 7 June, when she won the prestigious title of RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year 2007.
Organised by the Royal College of Nursing, this is the eleventh year the awards have been running. Karen fought off competition from five other finalists to receive the award for her work as Children’s Asthma and Allergy Nurse at the Ulster Hospital.
Having recognised the need for a nurse to work in this area, Karen convinced management to fund the first children’s asthma and allergy nurse post in Northern Ireland. She advises on treatment, offering up-to-date information to parents, carers and her colleagues. Thanks to Karen’s efforts a multi-disciplinary service has now evolved at the Ulster Hospital. As the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, it will be acting as a model for secondary care both here and throughout the United Kingdom.
Karen also provides specialist education for paediatric medical and nursing staff and liaises with community nurses to ensure the needs of children with asthma and allergies are recognised and met. She has promoted greater public and professional awareness of these conditions and been instrumental in the development of respiratory action plans, protocols and guidelines.
In addition, Karen has established a Nut Allergy Club, one of the first in Europe, to provide support and information for children, parents and carers.
Liz McElkerney from the Ulster Hospital nominated Karen. She said: “Karen’s innovative and positive nature proves that children do matter. Her constant commitment to aim for an integrated, seamless, high quality service is without reproach and highly respected and applauded by all who come in contact with her, both personally and professionally.”
Runner-up on the evening was Caroline Malone, Ward Manager in the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit now based at Musgrave Park Hospital. Caroline was praised for developing a booklet for the brothers and sisters of young people who had sustained a brain injury.
Other winners on the night included three nurses from Craigavon Area Hospital who won the Patient’s Choice Award, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. Mary Mackle, Barbara McAdam and Faith Farrell were nominated by the parents of baby with a life-limiting illness for the outstanding care they gave to their son and for making it possible for him to spend his last few weeks at home.
The Team Manager Award, sponsored by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, was won by June Cairns, Ward Manager of the Rehabilitation Unit at Lagan Valley Hospital. Thanks to June, the ward has seen great improvements in staff morale, complaints, recruitment and retention and reduced sickness levels.
The Nursing Research Award, sponsored by the University of Ulster, was won by Dr Assumpta Ryan, who is based at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus. Assumpta was awarded for her research into nursing home placements in rural areas of Northern Ireland.
The Student Award, sponsored by Queen’s University, was won jointly by Lisa Crossan from the University of Ulster at Magee and Helen McParland who completed her studies at Queen’s University, Belfast.
A new award this year, the Chief Nursing Officer’s Award for patient safety was won by Brenda Carson who is based at Lagan Valley Hospital.
The last award of the evening was to celebrate outstanding achievement in nursing in Northern Ireland. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, it was awarded to Kate O’Hanlon. Kate was a Red Sister in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital during the worst years of the troubles and was responsible for setting up the RCN Accident and Emergency Forum.
Commenting on the Awards, RCN Northern Ireland Director Mary Hinds said: “Congratulations to Karen in receiving the overall title.
“Through her pioneering role Karen has raised the profile of allergic disease and asthma in children. Her enthusiasm, dedication and expertise is being used to improve services for children throughout the province.
“Karen’s work is a prime example of how nurses are making a difference to patients across many different and new areas of health care. These awards demonstrate the good practice and innovations that are taking place throughout hospitals and in the community in Northern Ireland.
“They also highlight the high level of patient care our nurses are providing as well as the benefits gained from the work they have carried out. It is clear that nurses are playing a leading role in modernising services for patients as well as making a real difference to people’s lives.
“I would like to congratulate all of our winners. It is wonderful to see the level of talent that exists both within the profession at the moment as well as our students who are the nurses of the future.”