Hospital cardiac nurse Angela Hall received the award from TV presenter Kate Garraway at the RCNi Nurse Awards ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel in London.
Ms Hall, who also won the Innovations in your Speciality Award, was accompanied at the presentation by Game of Thrones actress and Royal College of Nursing ambassador Emilia Clarke.
The RCNi is a branch of the Royal College of Nursing responsible for ‘innovative and creative information solutions’ for the nursing profession.
Ms Hall (40) has developed innovative methods to improve care for heart rhythm disorder patients, including establishing a rapid-access ‘transient loss of consciousness’ clinic at the Hospital so patients suffering blackouts can be treated in weeks rather than months.
She was also recognised for introducing the drug vernakalant to the Emergency Department to treat rapid onset atrial fibrillation [quivering heartbeat], making Jersey’s hospital the first in Britain to use the treatment.
‘I first heard about vernakalant at a conference in the UK,’ she said.
‘There were a few challenges bringing it over here because it was not used by the NHS but we overcame them. It has been widely used across Europe.’
The use of vernakalant has allowed patients to be successfully treated and discharged within hours rather than being admitted to hospital and Ms Hall’s innovations are being shared with UK hospitals.
RCNi managing director Rachel Armitage said that she was ‘overjoyed’ to recognise Ms Hall for her ‘hard work’.
‘She is a magnificent example of a nurse who has gone above and beyond in their specialism and we hope that she inspires many more to consider a rewarding career in the nursing profession,’ she said.
Ms Hall, who was shortlisted from more than 700 entrants, said that she was ‘stunned but delighted’ to receive the award.
‘My colleague entered me for an RCNi award and it’s such a great platform to showcase and reinforce what we do,’ she said.
Another Jersey nurse, Andrea Bowring (40), from the Learning Disability Service, also attended the prestigious ceremony after reaching the final of the Learning Disability Nurse award category.
She was recognised for her work improving the quality of life of patients with learning disabilities and autism.
A celebration of their achievements was held with their colleagues yesterday at the Halliwell Theatre at Peter Crill House.
