Training
Key to improving the quality of care received by those needing nutritional support is the training and education of the staff caring for them. Whilst providing good nutritional care is the responsibility of all members of the healthcare team, nurses are at the forefront of delivering this care 24hrs a day. For many years now the Nightingale Trust has been known for the development of a gold standard course for nutrition nurses which covers practical skills, troubleshooting and professional issues.
Next course
Next course 21st July 2025 – 25th July 2025
A 5 day course specifically designed to enhance knowledge, skills and advancement in practice for Nutrition Nurses.
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham
Training tomorrow’s experts
The course is designed to cover the day to day patient care and management issues faced by NNS’s. Whilst being essentially practical in nature, any learning will be underpinned by the relevant theory wherever possible.
NNS’s will develop their knowledge from listening to and learning from the course teachers and from each other through participation and discussion throughout the whole course. To aid in this, teaching will be informal and fluid allowing students to ask questions in an informal and non-threatening environment.
The role of the NNS is varied, often determined by the establishment in which they work. Not every student
who applies for this course will be undertaking all of the aspects of the role which are covered. However, as both the individual NNS and their working environment grows and changes, so might the role they are expected to fulfil. Therefore although not all NNS’s may be placing catheters for PN, or placing nasal bridles currently, this may be something that in the future it will be helpful to have knowledge of.
We are pleased to confirm that CPD accreditation has been applied for.
Feedback
Supply of Training Aids
We provide hospitals with a contribution for textbooks and training manikins. Please email Lynne Colagiovanni or use the website contact page for more information.
Pamela Harris Medal Lecture
The Pamela Harris Lecture will have a new home at the BAPEN Annual Conference this year. As in previous years we are looking for nurses to submit an abstract which details a piece of work where the primary focus is patient care or management. An educational grant to attend the Conference is available. Further details and how to apply are available here.
Previous winners:
2015 The inaugural lecture was given by Kurt Boeykens at the NNNG Conference in His lecture, ‘Reliability of pH measurement and the auscultatory method to confirm position of a nasogastric tube‘, was thought-provoking and well received.
2016 Mia Small, Consultant Nurse in Intestinal Failure & Nutrition at London & Northwest Healthcare Trust. Mia presented her winning work,’Harnessing innovative pump technology to improve the experience and outcomes of patients receiving home parenteral nutrition‘. An abstract of Mia’s work is available to view here.
2017 Margaret Collins, Nutrition Nurse Specialist from Cheltenham & Gloucester Hospitals, who presented her work, ‘Keeping the home in homeostasis‘. An abstract of Margaret’s work is available to view here.
2018 Winner, Elaine Trautner, Nutrition Nurse Specialist, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, who presented her work, ‘Buried Bumper Syndrome‘. An abstract of Elaine’s work is available to view here.
2019 Winner, Hayley Leyland, Nutrition Nurse Specialist from Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, who presented her work on Repair of Central Venous Catheters in Home Parenteral Nutrition patients. An abstract of Hayley’s work is available to view here.
2022 Winner, Jose Bennell, Nutrition Nurse Specialist, Royal Free Hospital, who presented her work on Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections in the time of Covid. An abstract of Jose’s work is available to view here.
2023 Winner: Kirsty Hall, Intestinal Failure Unit, Salford Royal, Salford, United Kingdom, who presented her work on the efficiency of a Nurse led service in the management of Central Venous Catheter Repairs for patients receiving Home Parenteral Support. An abstract of Kirsty’s work is available to view here.
2024: Winner: Angela Cole, who presented her work on the development and implementation of a formal transition pathway for adolescents and young adults on home parenteral support in a UK intestinal failure unit. An abstract of Angela’s work is available to view here.
