Why I value my time as a trustee
In November 2022 I am proud to have achieved successful nomination and have become a trustee of the British Association of Urological Nursing. This is an honour to be part of a small team of like-minded professionals who are championing the way forward in the development of urological nursing practice. My role as a trustee is the conference lead in the organisation of the BAUN annual conference.
Planning and managing the components that make up the agenda, exhibition, hospitality trustee contributions, roles and responsibilities as we work together to bring a face-to-face conference. Recruiting and Supporting guest professional speakers, organising agenda and topics, running and co-ordinating sessions, workshops and delegate attendance.
As well as supporting the Trustee team in the general business of the charity, membership recruitment, advertising and promotion and the organising and running of educational events; webinars, Facebook live, face to face workshops through a variety of social media platforms.
Why I have a passion for urology
As a commercial nurse I have gained much insight into a variety of NHS organisations in the field of urology and developed relationships with many professionals giving me confidence and credibility to be an asset to the BAUN council. I have worked with many of the council members/presidents previously. I have presented on stage at symposiums and BAUN conference, helped develop online e-learning platforms, developed electronic nurse documentation, so I feel confident to be able to work within the role of a council member.
I would like to see Urology nursing become attractive to new nurses who want to develop their skills and confidence in specialist practice, I was lucky to find the right influencers and role models early on which set me up on my lifelong commitment to urology. I have ideas around electronic patient support, using phones apps, training and resources electronically that fit in with the modern fast pace of healthcare. Information snippet apps for professionals.
Biography
Adele has practised in urological nursing since nurse qualification in 1994. She worked in urology up to ward manager, moving into the commercial nurse role in 2003 where she worked for Coloplast as a nurse specialist supporting patients requiring urological devices. She developed an interest in stricture management, the use of self-catheterisation in managing LUTS and neurogenic bladder dysfunction. She developed training days to share good practice. Adele wrote an article on assessment and fitting of urinary sheaths published in the nursing Times.
In 2006 she became full time NHS urology nurse practitioner role at Surrey and Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust running nurse led erectile dysfunction clinics, TWOC and ISC clinics. Developing a Community TWOC pathway in response to demand and patient need. She has supported intravesical chemotherapy, bladder instillations and prostate assessment clinics.
In 2008 she was invited back to work at Coloplast and became the clinical research nurse and was part of the clinical process of bringing a variety of new urological devices to the market. Running clinical trials alongside NHS colleagues, developing patient literature, running and developing educational resources both online and study days and symposiums for self-catheterisation, indwelling catheter care, anal irrigation and clinic and pathway development workshops.
She managed a team of specialist clinicians in this role and supportted corporate charity events and charity and professional exhibitions. She also initiated and led a 3-week sabbatical to Sri Lanka with a team of colleagues to support and rehabilitate a school and the families affected by the tsunami. She organised health and well-being clinics, carried out vaccinations and first aid training. She hase also raised money for her local children’s hospice through being sponsored to abseil down Arundel castle.
Joining Clinisupplies in 2018 where she had a full-time honorary contract to support Surrey and Sussex as a Clinical nurse specialist in benign urology, she has continued to work as a core member of the nurse and clinical team at the Trust, providing nurse led clinics in stricture management, BPH assessment, TWOC and cystistat and iAluRiL instillations.
On 26th June 2023 Adele started her role as a Coloplast Nurse at Coloplast Limited where she will continue to support NHS colleagues with urology nurse support; assessing, planning and providing specialist care. Supporting service development and evaluation. Delivering information, training and support to patients and their families, using intermittent self-catheterisation, Peristeen irrigation. She is currently working with 2 hospital trusts (Kings College and Surrey and Sussex) through long term honorary contracts.