2020 has been a memorable year for us all in many ways. The pandemic has made its mark on individuals, healthcare and world history and has changed so much that we had taken for granted. However, 2020 has not just been about Covid-19. 2020 was named as the first International Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organisation, in recognition of the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. It was intended as a celebration of the skills, expertise, commitment and contribution of nurses and midwives across the globe and as an acknowledgement that all of us have contact with nurses or nursing at some point in our lives.

Many aspects of nursing today would be unrecognisable to Florence Nightingale, although some of her precepts and the principles of basic nursing care remain paramount. This includes the skills, activities and interventions that ensure the comfort, dignity, safety and wellbeing of those we work with. What has changed is the technology, the diversity of specialities, the levels of specialisation and expertise and the range of environments where nurses are to be found. These include hospital, community, prisons, educational establishments, armed forces, research, policy making, and charitable organisations, to name but a few.

NTA 2020 Finalists

Thirty years ago, the Nursing Times launched their awards to celebrate achievements in nursing. The presentation ceremony is usually a glittering black-tie event, on an October evening at a smart London venue. It is an opportunity to relax, enjoy, celebrate and network with colleagues. The Nursing Times Awards for 2020 were as special as ever, although they looked somewhat different to preceding years. Judging was undertaken remotely and the presentation ceremony was virtual. Rather than starting with a reception and dinner, the Awards were introduced with a video that included the names of the qualified nurses that have died from Covid-19.

The poignant and moving acknowledgment of those who have given everything in the care of others was an appropriate start to the celebrations. They will be remembered, not just by their friends and families, but by all who have contributed or benefited so much from healthcare this year.

The awards are about the celebration of nurses and nursing across the spectrum of roles and healthcare. There are twenty-three diverse categories, from nurse leader of the year and lifetime achievement awards to the care of older people, enhancing patient dignity and many others. This year the team from Bladder & Bowel UK submitted two different projects for consideration. Work done with the group Positive About Down Syndrome, supporting toilet training for children during lockdown which was titled ‘Empowering parents via social media.’ This was entered into four categories: Children’s Services, Continence Promotion and Care, Learning Disabilities Nursing and Promoting Patient Self-Management. To the delight of both organisations, the project was a finalist in all four awards.

The second project, was entered into the Nursing Times Awards by Bladder & Bowel UK in conjunction with ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity. It was entered into two awards and was a finalist in the Children’s Services category but was the winner of the 2020 Continence Promotion and Care award.

The project, ‘Help at school – a partnership approach to providing guidance and practical support’, was culminated in the publication of national guidance to assist educational establishments to understand bladder and bowel issues experienced by children and young people, so that they would understand how best to support affected learners. The guidance document includes information about how children develop continence, how to promote bladder and bowel health, how to safeguard children’s wellbeing, the role of care plans, sample intimate care policies and a sample care plan as well as legislation relevant to the different countries of the UK and a glossary of terms.

The team at Bladder & Bowel UK are delighted that their work and that of ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity, has been recognised by the Nursing Times Awards in this way. The project developed as a result of numerous calls to the charities helplines from families and school staff struggling to understand issues and arrange support for children and young people with bladder and bowel issues in nurseries, schools and colleges. Research has demonstrated what the teams at Bladder & Bowel UK and ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity, already knew: that those with bladder and bowel health issues often experience anxiety about bullying, social isolation and stigma, as well as about disclosing their condition to teachers. It is hoped that this work will help reduce the negative consequences of having a bladder or bowel problem for children and young people.

‘Managing Bladder and Bowel Issues in Nurseries, Schools and Colleges Guidance for school leaders, proprietors, governors, staff and practitioners’ (October 2019) is available to download and print at: https://www.bbuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Managing-Continence-Problems-in-Schools-2019.pdf. Other relevant documents including a word version of a sample care plan and intimate care policy that may be amended to reflect educational establishment or individuals needs are available at: https://www.bbuk.org.uk/schools-resources/

Bladder & Bowel UK have lots of information and resources on our website at www.bbuk.org.uk to support people of all ages with bladder and or bowel difficulties. These are all free to download and print.

Bladder & Bowel UK also have a confidential helpline staffed by children and adult nurses who are specialists in bladder and bowel care. You can contact them by email at bbuk@disabledliving.co.uk or by telephone on 0161 214 4591.

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During a challenging year for the profession, the Nursing Times team were honoured to hear the stories and read the entries of those who entered the Nursing Times Awards 2020. The judges had a tough job deciding on the finalists and were impressed by the incredible innovation and resilience shown by the nursing profession during the Covid-19 crisis.

BBUK emerged as a finalist in four categories including, Children’s services and Continence Promotion and Care for projects with ERIC, to provide guidance and practical support to children in schools and PADS (Positive about Down Syndrome) for setting up closed Facebook groups, empowering and supporting parents to potty train their children and manage common continence problems. The Bladder & Bowel UK & PADS project was also shortlisted in two further categories including ‘Learning Disability’ and ‘Promoting Patient Self-Management’.

“Congratulations to all our shortlisted entrants and thank you to everyone who has entered the 2020 Nursing Times Awards.” said Nursing Times editor, Steve Ford.

“The challenge of tackling Covid-19, coming as it has during the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, has showcased the great work and innovation of nurses in every setting across the UK.”

“The Nursing Times Award provides us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the profession’s exceptional achievements in a very difficult year, and I look forward to announcing the winners.”

Entering their 30^th year, the Nursing Times Awards are the most respected and relevant awards in the nursing and healthcare sector, representing true excellence in nursing and patient care. The awards will take place in a glittering evening of recognition on Wednesday 14 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.

Discover more about the Nursing Times Awards and book your place at awards.nursingtimes.net.

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Nurses work across many different areas. They provide healthcare services, monitor and support patient progress, educate patients, their families, carers and others regarding their health condition as well as providing day-to-day care.

It is important to also acknowledge that many nurses also work with people in good health. This includes promoting healthy lifestyle choices, independent living and providing individuals with actionable advice on how to live longer and healthier lives.

Today marks my 34^th year working in this wonderful profession – nursing.  A career path that I chose from being 5 years old. Honestly, I’ve never given a thought of doing anything else really.

Looking back over the years

Over the years, I have had wonderful opportunities in my career. These include working in different settings, looking after people, meeting many people and being welcomed into people’s lives, across hospitals, the community, as a district nursing sister and continence, as well as being a bladder and a bowel specialist nurse.

In more recent years, I moved to the third sector. I now have a combined role, working for a national service (Bladder & Bowel UK) within the wider charity, Disabled Living. I am also continuing my bladder and bowel NHS practice alongside this.

When I arrived as a young lass in Canterbury during the 80’s, I met with a group of like -minded people. All of us were eagerly anticipating the start of learning and becoming a nurse. We trained in small groups back then, with a maximum 10 -15 in a set. During this time, we completed our training under the watchful eye of our matrons and mentors.

We all remain firm, close friends to this day, sharing the joys and sometimes sadness, life brings us all over the years. All of us have taken different paths, which include palliative care, practice nursing, specialist nursing, midwifery, management and Hospital Chaplin. However, we all remain firm in our commitment to continue what we love doing – in whatever setting we are working. So, here’s a “Happy Birthday” to the Set of 86 and in the words of one of the most famous nurses:

No matter how difficult the days may get, never forget the reason you became a nurse. – Florence Nightingale

Written by Karen Irwin, Specialist Nurse / Service Manager at Bladder & Bowel UK. 

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