Roscommon nursing mentor honoured on International Nurses Day
Roscommon University Hospital (RUH) celebrated International Day of the Nurse on Friday, May 12 by recognising the contribution of their nursing mentors in supporting new colleagues.
Since the beginning of last year, 18 overseas nurses and midwives took up roles in RUH, and they were supported with an adaptation and preceptorship programme.
The Saolta Preceptor Recognition Awards is an initiative to publicly acknowledge and thank the nurses who made such a huge impact on the hospital's new recruits.
Preceptorship is the term given to a structured, supported period of learning where experienced nurses take on the role of mentoring newly appointed nurses and helping them to adapt to their new positions. Since 2022, over 550 new overseas nurses and midwives joined the Saolta group and benefited from an adaptation and preceptorship programme.
In RUH, nurse Gráinne Keaveney was recently honoured with a preceptorship award at the hospital. Gráinne is a staff nurse in St Teresa’s Ward and she was nominated by her preceptee Jessica Okoro.
Jessica said: “I nominated Gráinne because she made me so comfortable and supported me in everything I did. Since the first day of my adaptation she was very kind, she gave me positive and constructive feedback with loads of support on what I needed to learn. I am very grateful to her.”
Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery said: “On International Day of the Nurse, I want to personally take this opportunity to thank all our nurses and student nurses across the Saolta group for everything you do to help others each and every day. I am incredibly proud of all our nurses, and what the Preceptor Recognition Awards has proven is that we are a diverse community of talented, caring professionals who lift up our colleagues and help each other thrive. Congratulations to Gráinne for being selected for this award and thank you for the support and mentoring you have provided to our international nurses in Roscommon University Hospital.”
Ursula Morgan, Director of Nursing at RUH, added: ”We know that adjusting to a new country, a new workplace, and a new clinical environment can be challenging and it is crucial to have the right supports in place to help our new colleagues adapt. Preceptorship is a great way to accelerate performance and productivity. Not just that, but it comes with the benefits of gaining different perspectives, improving self-confidence and increasing job satisfaction. On behalf of everyone in RUH I want to congratulate Gráinne for being such an outstanding role model, she embodies the values of leadership and compassion. I’m very proud of all our preceptors and our new nursing colleagues who have engaged wholeheartedly with the programme.”
Gráinne was presented with a voucher, a certificate, and their award by Saolta Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery at recent awards ceremony.