Fiona Stephenson – a specialist spinal cord injury nurse – has won the International Impact Award at the 2017 Cavell Nurses’ Trust Awards.
Cavell Nurses’ Trust is a UK charity providing a range of support for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants across the country.
The newly created International Impact Award recognises the vital role of UK based nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who travel across the world to offer their expertise and aid during humanitarian crises, widespread outbreak of disease, natural disasters or conflict and those that help capacity build nursing and healthcare services.
[blockquote cite=”Fiona Stephenson” type=”left”]I am absolutely shocked, thrilled, humbled and honoured to be recognised in this way.[/blockquote]
The awards also recognise people who take expertise to a part of the world which has yet to develop this area for the health of its people or to enable improved standards of patient care.
Sharing 30 years of experience to help others
Using her three decades of experience, Fiona has actively supported nurses around the world working in the area of SCI management. This included setting up the International Network for SCI Nurses in collaboration with a colleague – an organisation aimed at the global sharing of ideas, knowledge and resources.
‘My passion is spinal cord injury (SCI) nursing’, said Fiona about what contributed to the award. ‘I have volunteered in quite a few countries including Haiti, Asia, Africa and Jordan, to share knowledge and skills with my international colleagues.’
Bringing expertise to the UK
This award recognises Fiona’s work internationally, but has recently taken up a role with the Livability Spinal Injury Centre in Dorset – a brand new service that provides respite and rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Commenting on her new position, Fiona said:
‘I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing initiative – the first of its kind in the UK. As Head of Care at Livability’s Spinal Injury Centre, my aim is to assist in creating a place that further assists people to adjust to their life changing injury. This is a team effort and I believe we will be able to really support our service users in their journey back into the community.’
The award ceremony was held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on Thursday 22nd June 2017.
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