Fri, 12 Nov 2010
A PhD nursing student from the University of East Anglia is in the running for a prestigious Nursing in Practice award
Sheila Hardy (pictured) has been shortlisted for her work to break the connection between mental illness and physical problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart problems.
The awards celebrate best practice in a variety of clinical areas and are designed to recognise excellence and innovation in primary care.
Sheila, who works as a nurse practitioner for a GP surgery in Northampton has been shortlisted for a Mental Health Including Substance Abuse award for her involvement with the Northampton Physical Health and Well-being Project.
Mental health illness is associated with high medical co-morbidity. To combat this, the initiative sees people with severe mental illness receive an annual physical health check covering blood glucose and cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference. Patients are also provided with lifestyle advice on areas such as diet, exercise, and smoking.
As well as leading the project, Sheila is also evaluating whether her efforts are having a positive effect on cardiovascular risk in patients with severe mental illness.
It is hoped that this research will be used as evidence to support NICE guidance in the future.
Sheila, who has completed the first year of a part-time PhD, said: “Having provided evidence-based physical health checks for people with severe mental illness myself for the last five years, I have seen first-hand the benefit they provide to patients.
“I am flattered to have been shortlisted for this award,” she added.
Praising her work, judges said: “You have brought inspirational ideas into your daily practices and stood out among the rest. This year’s competition has attracted even more entries than previously, so it has been a particularly difficult one to judge.”
Prof Val Lattimer, head of Nursing and Midwifery at UEA, said: “Sheila is making a very important contribution to mental health care and is showing how research can make a difference for people. We are delighted that Sheila has been shortlisted for this award during her PhD studies."
The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards lunch and ceremony at Birmingham NEC on November 16.
It has been an exciting year for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which was recognised as second for Nursing and Paramedical studies in the Guardian University Guide, as it prepares to go to all degree courses from September 2011.
The awards celebrate best practice in a variety of clinical areas and are designed to recognise excellence and innovation in primary care.
Sheila, who works as a nurse practitioner for a GP surgery in Northampton has been shortlisted for a Mental Health Including Substance Abuse award for her involvement with the Northampton Physical Health and Well-being Project.
Mental health illness is associated with high medical co-morbidity. To combat this, the initiative sees people with severe mental illness receive an annual physical health check covering blood glucose and cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference. Patients are also provided with lifestyle advice on areas such as diet, exercise, and smoking.
As well as leading the project, Sheila is also evaluating whether her efforts are having a positive effect on cardiovascular risk in patients with severe mental illness.
It is hoped that this research will be used as evidence to support NICE guidance in the future.
Sheila, who has completed the first year of a part-time PhD, said: “Having provided evidence-based physical health checks for people with severe mental illness myself for the last five years, I have seen first-hand the benefit they provide to patients.
“I am flattered to have been shortlisted for this award,” she added.
Praising her work, judges said: “You have brought inspirational ideas into your daily practices and stood out among the rest. This year’s competition has attracted even more entries than previously, so it has been a particularly difficult one to judge.”
Prof Val Lattimer, head of Nursing and Midwifery at UEA, said: “Sheila is making a very important contribution to mental health care and is showing how research can make a difference for people. We are delighted that Sheila has been shortlisted for this award during her PhD studies."
The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards lunch and ceremony at Birmingham NEC on November 16.
It has been an exciting year for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which was recognised as second for Nursing and Paramedical studies in the Guardian University Guide, as it prepares to go to all degree courses from September 2011.
