The first Renal Advanced Nurse Practitioners have been appointed at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT). Jini Jacob and Sani George, both from India will be serving the positions from now on and both of them have been working in the hospital since 2006, reports Laois Nationalist.
During the last 15 years, Jini and Sani have contributed greatly to the development and expansion of renal services at the hospital. In that time the hospital has increased from a six station to a 29 station Haemodialysis Unit which provides acute dialysis treatment within the ICU/CCU and the Nephrology in-patient Medical ward and most recently has become the parent site for the contracted haemodialysis unit located in Portlaoise.
Prior to their new role, Sani was working as the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) while Jini was the clinical facilitator for the hospital renal unit.
Both completed their Masters in Nursing at Trinity College, Nurse prescribing at the Royal College of Surgeons and the higher diploma in renal nursing at Trinity College. On a daily basis both incorporate their advanced academic and practical knowledge and critical thinking skills independently to manage the care of the renal dialysis patient group and CKD population in Tullamore hospital.
They were also credited in 2008 as the first registered nurse prescribers within a renal dialysis unit in Ireland.
Their new roles will help in better anaemia management, fluid management, early detection of any potential infection, preparing patient for renal replacement therapy, pre-emptive transplant work up, pre-Emptive vascular access work up, etc. for the patients in the area. It will also be a big relief for those suffer from chronic kidney diseases.
Clinical Nurse Manager at the Renal Unit Noreen Galvin said: “Jini and Sani are autonomous practitioners with a wealth of advanced specialist renal knowledge and critical thinking skills in providing optimal care to the renal patient cohort. They encourage new initiatives, promote change and development based on evidenced based research. They are dedicated, hardworking, knowledgeable and an excellent asset to the renal team and their patient group. They provide on-going guidance and educational support to their patients, nurse colleagues and the many students who travel via the Renal Unit. They are role models for the next generation of Renal Nursing.”
“I would like to acknowledge the continuous and on-going expert professional clinical guidance provided to both Sani and Jini by Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Eoin Bergin who also provided 500 hours of supervised clinical practice before their appointment as Renal ANP’s, the support and guidance of Director of Nursing Louisea Burke, Regional Nurse Practice and Development Planning Officer Dr. Mary Doolan, Assistant Director of Nursing Practice Development Coordinator Clare Foley and the renal multidisciplinary team.” he added.
Jini Jacob and Sani George said: “We as a team could not have achieved this without the tremendous support of everyone from the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. Since arriving in Ireland we have been afforded many opportunities to learn, develop and transform the renal services available to our patients. We would like to thank everyone for their support and guidance and acknowledge our patients who inspire us every day.”