The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is thrilled to announce that Tracy Cloke, Nutrition Nurse Specialist has been shortlisted in this year’s British Journal of Nursing Awards in the specialist nutrition category.
Tracy, who retired at the end of last year, worked within the hospital and in the community nutrition service for four years, focusing her efforts on improving the experience for those patients who need a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG) insertion.
This treatment allows the patient to receive nutrition, fluids and medicines directly into the stomach, bypassing the mouth and oesophagus. Maintenance of this feeding system is vital to ensure that it remains unblocked, to help improve people’s quality of life and help to prevent unnecessary hospital admission.
Outstanding work led to improved assessments and counselling
As part of her role, she helped to raise the profile of nutrition, working tirelessly to improve the knowledge and skills of the multidisciplinary teams who care for patients who require PEG treatment and to embed nutrition assessment as an essential consideration when delivering care.
Tracy’s outstanding work led to improved assessments and counselling and in working closely with consultants, she helped to cut delays to referrals for key procedures such as PEG insertion for hospital and community patients.
This led to a reduction in PEG patients needing to visit the Emergency Department with a blocked PEG tub and significantly improved mortality rates post PEG insertion.
Longson: Incredibly grateful for her contribution to nutrition nursing
Nicola Longson, Director of Operations – Community Services, said,
“We are delighted that Tracy has been shortlisted in the nutrition category, an area of nursing that she is passionate about. This is a proud moment for Tracy, and we are incredibly grateful for her contribution to nutrition nursing and its positive impact on outcomes for our patients.
“She has provided education, guidance and support for colleagues, other care providers, families and carers to ensure that patients are well supported, understand the risk of malnutrition and its significance on health and healing, to enable them to make informed choices.”
Cloke: Nursing is the best job ever
Tracy Cloke, retired Nutrition Nurse Specialist, said,
“I feel very honoured and proud to be firstly nominated then shortlisted for this award for doing the job I love. For me nursing is the best job ever and I have thoroughly enjoyed being the nutrition nurse for the Island over the past 7 years. Nutrition is fundamental to life and a huge social part of all our lives, so to find yourself unable to eat and drink, without artificial intervention can be devastating.
“I have been privileged to be able to work alongside my patients to support them both practically and emotionally. I have learnt so much from them about what is important to them and using this knowledge, I have always strived to improve their experience and the care we provide.
“No one works in isolation, and we are all stronger when we work together and support each other, I have been so lucky to have had such a great bunch of people across all healthcare settings and disciplines, working with me. Together we are able to make changes to improve the care we provide.”
Tracy Cloke is one of three nurses shortlisted for Nutrition Nurse of the Year 2022. The ceremony takes place on Friday 25th March.
The full shortlist is available on the BJN Awards website.
News shared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
