Professional Nurse Advocate roadshow highlights role in supporting reflection and high-quality care
The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) recently hosted a Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) awareness roadshow, designed to showcase the value of the PNA role in supporting staff and sustaining the highest standards of patient care.
Over the course of the day, the PNA team visited wards and departments across the hospital to meet staff, answer questions, and demonstrate how restorative clinical supervision can help colleagues reflect, build resilience, and find solutions to the challenges of delivering complex care.
Celebrating our newly qualified PNAs
The roadshow concluded with a celebratory event where seven RHN nurses were formally awarded their PNA certificates and badges. These were presented by RHN Chief Executive Paul Allen and Director of Nursing Della Warren, on behalf of the Chief Nursing Officer for England. Paul Allen and Della Warren congratulated the new PNAs and highlighted how their skills will provide vital support to colleagues and strengthen the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care across the hospital.
The PNA role at RHN
Professional Nurse Advocates are trained to deliver restorative supervision that gives colleagues space to pause, reflect, and learn from their experiences. This process reduces stress, strengthens resilience, and supports professional wellbeing—essential in the context of caring for people with complex neuro-disabilities. At the RHN, PNAs are now embedded across clinical areas, ensuring staff at all levels can access meaningful supervision and guidance. The programme complements the hospital’s wider investment in staff development and links directly to the quality and safety of patient care.
Lizel Muyo, Professional Nurse Advocate Lead at the RHN, said:
“The PNA role provides a protected space for nurses to reflect, learn, and strengthen their resilience. By supporting colleagues in this way, we create stronger teams, safeguard wellbeing, and ensure we continue to deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care for our patients.”
Strengthening resilience and care quality
The RHN’s investment in the PNA programme reflects its commitment to staff wellbeing and professional growth. With funding support from NHS England, the initiative is embedding PNAs across clinical areas and equipping nurses with the skills to provide structured supervision for their colleagues. This work also supports the hospital’s Pathway to Excellence® journey, reinforcing a culture where reflective practice, resilience, and professional development are central to nursing excellence. The roadshow was not only a celebration of seven newly qualified PNAs but also a clear demonstration of how the role is enhancing staff support and patient care at the RHN.
As more nurses complete the training, the RHN will continue to strengthen its approach to professional support, ensuring the best possible outcomes for staff and patients.
