RUH appoints the first Registered ANP in Plastic Surgery post in Ireland

Roscommon University Hospital’s Amanda O’Halloran has recently been appointed as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Plastic Surgery, the first RANP post in Plastic Surgery in Ireland

Amanda completed her general nursing training in St. James Hospital and began working in Roscommon University Hospital in 2005. Amanda has had a keen interest in clinical care and quality improvement since her student days and her interest in plastic surgery came to the forefront when she began to work alongside Dr Deirdre Jones, Consultant in Plastic Surgery in late 2011.

Amanda completed the Burns and Reconstructive Acute Clinical Pathway in the University of Brighton. She undertook her MSc in Advanced Practice with Nurse Prescribing in NUI Galway. One of her achievements was as a member of the team who won first prize for a poster named the “See and Treat Model of Care” from Dr Aine Carroll at the inaugural Integrated Care Conference at Dublin Castle in June 2015. This See and Treat Model of Care is in place for patients in RUH and means that the patients receive their consultation and procedure during the same visit.

Commenting Marie Doorly, Acting General Manager Roscommon University Hospital said, “The aim of the RANP Plastic Surgery role is to provide a timely service to the plastic surgery patient and provides them with an advanced nursing service. The Plastics service has been extremely successful here in RUH and in 2016 we saw and treated 5869 patients. Many patients travel from outside the county to avail of this excellent service. In addition, we currently have another skilled and highly qualified candidate preparing to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in skin cancer, and  we intend to steadily build a strong team of ANPs over the next few years in plastic surgery and across Roscommon University Hospital.

Amanda O Halloran added “We are continually seeking new ways to deliver innovative plastic surgery nursing care -this will be achieved by working in collaboration with the Plastic Surgery and multidisciplinary team. With the direction and support of surgeon Dr Deirdre Jones, I look forward to working with my colleagues in RUH to continue to develop this service”.