International Nurses Day: Bourn Hall fertility nurses ‘take the lead’

International Nurses Day 2022

Fertility nurses with combined experience of 75 years have been appointed to senior leadership roles at Bourn Hall in recognition of their contribution to the clinic, and are receiving bespoke leadership training to help them make the transition. The announcement comes on International Nurses Day (12th May 2022), which this year has the theme ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing’.

Leona Crookston

Leona Crookston

The nurses Leona Crookston, Joanne Sharman and Kathryn Rayner have brought skills gained from other disciplines such as gynaecology and midwifery and have progressed through Bourn Hall’s training programme for fertility nurses. To complement their professional development, they are now receiving leadership training.

Nicola Graver, Human Resources Director at Bourn Hall, comments: “Fertility nursing is a highly specialised discipline within nursing and our nurses are very much on the ‘front line’ of what we do.

“By providing personal development training, they will have a toolbox of skills and techniques to make the transition into leadership roles.”

Leona and Joanne have been appointed joint Lead Nurses at the Cambridge clinic whilst Kathryn has been appointed Lead Nurse at the Norwich clinic.

Joanne Sharman

In addition to NHS IVF treatment, Bourn Hall Norwich also provides the NHS level 2 service, which includes fertility testing and diagnosis and treatment with monitored Ovulation Induction. Kathryn has helped to develop this service, which gives guidance to couples and helps many to get pregnant naturally. Leona and Joanne developed and ran the ‘Fertility Health and Wellbeing Service’, which is available for self-funded patients at all of Bourn Hall’s clinics across the East of England.

Kathryn Rayner, Lean Nurse

Kathryn Rayner

“Not surprisingly, Leona, Joanne and Kathryn are all doing brilliantly in their new roles,” says Nicola. “All three are highly experienced fertility nurses who have each demonstrated their leadership credentials.”

Nicola says: “It takes a very special kind of person to become a fertility nurse and we know from our patients just how much they remember and value the support and guidance they get from our wonderful team.”

Show your support for our wonderful nursing team by sharing your stories about a colleague or a nurse that has given you care or support on our Facebook page and on Twitter using #BestOfNursing and #NursesDay.

Read more stories about our staff in our celebration for International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

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