MADELINE WATKINS works within Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP) and her amazing efforts to improve access for older persons dealing with psychosis, and educating staff earned her the title of Wales Nurse of the Year at last week’s (21 November) 11th annual RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards.
In a pilot role created just four years ago, following an audit that revealed that only 10% of people affected by psychosis received therapy and that 50% of community mental health staff said they needed psychosis training, this inspirational nurse transformed the approach to treatment and support.
Madelaine provides critical, trauma-informed therapies giving people and their families more autonomy when interventions are necessary. She adopts the language the person uses to describe their symptoms to enable a personalised approach to therapy.
Her comprehensive psychosis training for staff, delivered to over 100 personnel and training 17 Voices & Visions Champions has innovated their approach to caring for service users.
The judging panel called Madelaine an inspirational nurse who has consistently demonstrated a passion to provide a better experience, dedicating her nursing career to the improvement of services advocating for an overlooked group in society.
Helen Whyley, Executive Director RCN Wales, said: “We are immensely proud to celebrate the achievements of this year’s overall Nurse of the Year winner.
“As a clinical nurse specialist, Madelaine has made a remarkable impact by improving the lives of people with psychosis and empowering her colleagues to provide the highest standard of care.
“Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to innovation exemplify the very best of our profession. She is an inspiration to us all and a shining example of how nurses transform lives every day. “
“We look forward to Madelaine highlighting the work of mental health nurses in the coming year and I know she will be an excellent ambassador for the profession.”
Madelaine Watkins, RCN Wales Nurse of the Year 2024, said: “This award means the world to me. It will give me a platform to showcase what clinical nurse specialists can do and to raise awareness of an underrepresented and disempowered group of older people having distressing experiences sometimes described as psychosis.
“By moving from a medical model towards a trauma-informed approach, with more psychological and social support, the benefits to treatment and healing outcomes are undeniable.
“I want to inspire more nursing staff to work in this field and help both students and newly qualified nurses to realise the career opportunities in mental health nursing.”
