Praise for dedication to nurse training at Carlow Hospital

A nurse at the HSE Dublin and South East’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow has been praised by nursing students for her dedication to their training.

In the course of four years of study in the South East Technological University (SETU), students of the B.Sc. (Honours) in Psychiatric Nursing spend placements with HSE services in the South East.

The Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow, as a 63-bed residential care centre facility is one such care facility used in this programme.

At each participating location, students are assigned a Preceptor from among the nursing staff there. The Preceptor supervises and mentors the students in these clinical settings. The Preceptor’s role involves providing practical, hands-on training, facilitating the application of theoretical knowledge to real-world situations and acting as a role model and assessor for the learner's clinical competence.

During the recent round of SETU graduations, those awarded the B.Sc. (Honours) in Psychiatric Nursing were asked to forward nominations for SETU Preceptor of the Year. One of those picked out was Anne Heapes, a Registered General Nurse at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow.

Speaking at a subsequent presentation of flowers, as a token of appreciation from her colleagues to Anne Heapes, Jenny Dowling (Director of Nursing, Sacred Heart Hospital, Carlow) said:

“We are always pleased at the Sacred Heart to facilitate the diversity of training afforded to the SETU graduates in Psychiatric Nursing. We have been playing our part for some time now in helping provide a solid foundation to these students’ professional development. In our own, small way, it is a lasting contribution to the delivery of quality, safe and effective mental health care locally, nationally and internationally.”

“We are delighted, therefore, to recognise Anne Heapes’ contribution. The students’ citation on Ann’s nomination, puts it so well:

‘Anne could not have done more to support me during my clinical placement. Her dedication to my learning was unwavering. Anne consistently went above and beyond to ensure I felt confident, capable, and well-prepared. Anne created a supportive and encouraging environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and reflecting on my practice. Anne’s guidance, patience, and expertise made a lasting impact on my development, and I am incredibly grateful for the experience of learning under her supervision.’