Research Nurse Vera Mae Canada from King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has won a Cavell Star Award for going above and beyond for her patients.
Colleague and Senior Research Nurse Carlito Adan explains why Vera is such a worthy winner,
“Vera is a valued member of our Research Team and works well with colleagues and patients alike. Vera is the main study coordinator of a research project looking to recruit patients from the underrepresented group (e.g. BAME). Kidney disease is 5 times more likely to happen to patients of African origin, but their participation in research to further understand their condition is very low.
“Vera understands the importance of representation in research as it will benefit people from ethnic minority how to understand, manage and improve quality of life. So, she implemented a recruitment initiative to ensure that people from this group have the same opportunity to participate in a life changing research project. She would ensure that patients understand the project and will give all the necessary information and offers them to contact her for any questions or clarification.
“As a result, Vera managed to achieve her target, more patients from underrepresented group are given the opportunity to participate and it has increased our research profile, more importantly, patients have positive experience.”
Vera reacted to winning her Cavell Star Award,
“I was not expecting to be nominated so I feel very grateful that the team appreciated my efforts and it motivated me to do better. The team mean everything to me. They have been my pillar of support and have made work less stressful. I couldn’t have made it this far without them.”