Newly qualified ITU nurses hit the ground running at The Walton Centre, thanks to enhanced support from Practice Education Team
The Walton Centre's Intensive Care unit (ICU), is a busy place, seeing a range of urgent brain and spinal injuries and conditions. When a new staff member starts work in the specialist unit, it's important for them to hit the ground running, and learn necessary skills quickly in order to look after patients that come through the door.
21-year-old Connie Hayes started as a newly qualified nurse in ICU at the beginning of 2026. Connie completed LJMU's nursing degree course in September 2025 and graduated last April, before securing a full-time position here at The Walton Centre.
Connie said: “Throughout my training, one lecturer in particular kept recommending working at The Walton Centre after qualifying. Another reason I wanted to work here is my Nan. She passed away in Whiston Hospital in 2024 from a bleed on the brain. There had been too much damage by the time she was brought to hospital, but I always wondered what it would've been like if things had been different. It inspired me to find out what it was like to work here.”
New nurses working in ICU are supported by a team of Practice Educators, who are senior nurses with extensive experience in providing intensive care to patients. During their first few weeks, nurses will undergo specialist training from a range of staff, from therapists to intensivists, to give them enhanced knowledge about the care of ICU patients.
Practice Educator and ICU Sister Lorna Murray said: “The combined experience and knowledge of the multidisciplinary team enabled us to create a programme that met the needs of new starters, but also pushed the boundaries of the skills they could develop. We all feel that although it has taken a lot of commitment and hard work, it has been incredibly worthwhile. We've had lots of positive feedback from newly qualified nurses joining the team too.”
Teaching was a mix of simulation training, practical skills training and formal classroom sessions, covering key subjects including anatomy, patient assessment and using highly technical equipment. The team also continues to top-up education for all staff in ICU with sessions on the latest technology and methods being developed in critical care.
Connie continued: “Since starting in January, no two days have been the same. It was a bit daunting at first, but there's so much support from colleagues that you can ask any questions and someone will help you, no one is made to feel silly for asking. It's such a welcoming and supportive environment.
“I'm using my personal experiences to help support friends and families of patients too. I know what a lot of them are going through after my experience with my Nan. It can be intense, but it's worth it if I can help them understand what's going on with their loved one.”
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Notes to editors
Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611