The Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) model was launched in 2021 by NHS England’s Chief Nursing Officer, Ruth May. Its main aim is to support nursing retention through improving the health and well-being of the nursing workforce and empowering people to provide high-quality care to patients.
By offering PNA support LSCft nurses are offered a safe, confidential space to reflect on situations and, explore feelings and emotions. Ultimately this helps nurses to make sense of their thoughts and feelings, be supported to action plan and move forward.
Through providing colleagues with a safe thinking space and time to feel heard in relation to clinical, professional and personal issues, PNA’s use restorative clinical supervision to support nurses in a continuous improvement process. Support is known to have a positive impact on the well-being of staff, ensuring the physical and emotional needs of nurses are addressed, job satisfaction is increased whilst stress and burnout are reduced.
Professional Nurse Advocates work to the A-EQUIP model (advocating and empowering for quality improvement). Their work focuses on the restorative element of supervision, this model focuses on the staff member’s experiences so that well-being and motivation in the workplace can be supported and maintained.
Sessions are offered to all staff, either collectively as a group or on an individual basis. Staff are welcome to have regular, ongoing support or a one-off session.
The Trust currently has a number of PNA’s across the networks, and continues to work towards the national guidance of one PNA to every 20 registered staff.
Contact a Professional Nurse Advocate
If you feel you would benefit from PNA input or restorative clinical supervision please email us: PNA.support@lscft.nhs.uk
