As part of the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, we will be profiling some of our Nursing Team, and nurses and midwives from the Midlands region throughout the year.

This week, you can find out more about Anne Roberts, a District Nursing Sister at Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust.

Name and role 

Anne Louise Roberts. District Nursing Sister, Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust.

On a typical day 

A typical day commences with messages on trust approved site indicating staff on early mornings and all is well, dealing with any issues with sickness etc.  I then make my way to office for approx. 0830 and organise team work load, looking at patient empowerment and providing clinical advice to junior members of the team.  I visit patients with complex needs including social needs alongside health needs and this can include completing numerous referrals to members of the MDT.  Palliative care plans an important aspect of most days ensuring that fast tracks are completed and palliative patients are monitored to ensure any deterioration in noted in a timely manner.

I complete off duty for a team of 34 in which I have to cover 2 full time clinics (in two different bases) and 1 part time assessment clinic and telephone triage.

I allocate daily work for the team which can consist of over 140 visits per day of which can include complex visits and in multiple areas and I continually assess the skill set of the team to meet the needs of the patients within community setting, highlighting education needs and support staff development with allocated time to develop their clinical skills and professional knowledge.

Throughout my working day I run 2 handovers of patient visits and update patients visit requirements on daily basis

I work closely with triage to empower patients to attend clinics as first point of contact if appropriate for patient’s individual needs 

Tell us how you have made a difference as a nurse or midwife 

The difference I make on a daily basis is I care about my staff and my patients and their physical and psychological well-being is of paramount importance.  No issue is too small as to the individual is it important.  Throughout my career I have endeavoured to advocate, inspire, educate and empower to ensure all that I have had the privilege to work with, lead or care for received the best leadership/care that I can provide.  Staying over at the end of my shift or spending time with staff during personal issues, showing that individual at that moment in time their needs are being addressed and are important.

I volunteer to work in Lourdes to support Pilgrims with health issues to attend this pilgrimage and without nurses and carers giving up their time, these patients could not attend and the ability to attend this annual event has a profound impact on their psychological well-being as these patients have a focus and purpose and release from potentially social isolation.

 What inspired you to go into nursing/midwifery? What would you say to a young person interested in a career in nursing & midwifery?

 My journey into nursing started many years ago.  My grandparents became ill and I alongside my family nursed my grandparents until their death.  This had a huge impact on myself, seeing nurses and carers and how they interacted with my grandparents and my family ignited a spark and a pathway not for a career but for a life choice.

To anyone young or older wanting to enter the world of nursing and midwifery I would tell them…

“ Nursing is not a career and possibly not a vocation it is expression of humanity and to care for those in need is an honour and a privilege.  There are challenges but every challenge has a reason, face the challenge with sensitivity and realisation that you cannot solve every problem but you can listen, you can support, you hold somebody’s hand, simplified you can make a difference…”

 Are there any good nursing/midwifery projects/ innovations happening in your organisation that you’d like to share?

 Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust is an advocate for staff and patient empowerment.  Production of trust self care  booklet to support patient’s to take control of their health and basic wound care needs, reducing social isolation and supporting quality of life as patient sheds the sick role and embraces being themselves with a manageable health need.  To quantify the success of patient empowerment audit is being completed and shared within management and is accessible for senior team to review.  The trust supports staff empowerment to share their views and embraces their opinion; the trust advocates excellent values and behaviours of staff as a work force and as providers of health care

Have you won any awards or recognitions for your nursing or midwifery role?

I have been presented with certificate following my volunteer work with the pilgrims in Lourdes. I also have been presented with a love award from MPFT and two leading with compassion awards from MPFT

Tell us your funniest or amusing work-related story or anecdote / most memorable mome

I have so many stories about my life as a nurse…. Stories that have made me smile and many that have made me cry.

My most memorable was a referral for a patient was visit on a barge somewhere on the canal and it may have a red roof.  However, being a detective community staff nurse the barge somewhere on the canal would not stop me finding my patient.. To make things more challenging it was snowing making travel that little bit more difficult.  I found the barge at the bottom of a very steep embankment with no railings :/ but being a resourceful soul I use the trees to aid my way down, I arrived at the barge on my bottom but intact and my patient was seen – however the referral for the barge somewhere on the canal with the possible red roof will remain forever and the smile I shared with my patient and colleagues….priceless.