Gladys really is a supernurse!

For Gladys is a supernurse and thats official.

Gladys has just been appointed the first ever Nurse Consultant in Public Health for the Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority (RWFHA).

"I feel humbled to be given such an opportunity, "said Gladys.

Not only is Gladys the first supernurse in the area, but she is in the lead when it comes to holding this very prestigious position, for the RWFHA is the first health authority in London to have made such an appointment.

Gladys trained at King George Hospital and although she admits her work is no longer hands-on, she has done her fair share of looking after patients while on duty on the wards.

"I qualified in 1979 and worked as a staff nurse in a busy surgical ward for one year," said Gladys.

Her ability to put patients at ease and her nursing skills were soon recognised and Gladys was promoted to ward sister within a year.

Babies played a large part in Gladyss life when she became a ward sister in the gynaecology ward at Barking Hospital. As well as looking after pregnant and new mothers, and babies of all weights and sizes, she oversaw the smooth running of the ward for six years.

Working with so many tiny lives obviously had a maternal effect on Gladys, for at the end of her time on the ward she decided to start a family. She now has two sons Anthony ,17, and Alex, 15.

Gladys returned to work, and spent five years working part-time. Juggling a family and a career is something lots of working mothers are familiar with. Gladys has made it look easy, but it has taken a lot of determination, love of the job and her family plus a mountain of hard work.

"After five years part-time I went back to the Royal College of Nursing Institute and specialised in infection control and completed a degree in health."

Armed with her degree Gladys returned to her nursing roots and took up a position as an infection control nurse specialist in the new King George Hospital (KGH).

Non-stop nurse Gladys spent four years at the KGH, before moving into public health, where she became a public health nurse specialist six years ago. Her appointment as a nurse consultant in public health was announced earlier this month.

With so much in the media about the lot of nurses, long hours and low pay, is there still a future for nurses and the nursing profession? Gladyss answer is a resounding "Yes."

"I would encourage anyone thinking of coming into nursing to talk to senior nurses and explore the great opportunities available to them.

"The role of nurses has changed over the years for the better."

Gladys said nurses have the chance to, and often do, specialise and lead in diabetes, dermatology, cancer care and much more.

She believes nurses now have greater control, not just of their careers, but greater control when it comes to patient care as well.

"Nurses are beginning to have an autonomous role in planning and giving patient care. "

When it comes to dealing with patients in the 21st century, does the stereotype image of the matron who rules with an ice cold bed pan still ring true?

Certainly not! Gladys said today's patients are better informed about their conditions and the treatments available.

"Patients are not frightened to come forward and demand what is best for them."

Gladys said this as a positive aspect of nursing and medical care, which goes a long way towards helping to plan patients care with them.

Gladys feels that although there are several nurse consultants in front line nursing, her nurse consultant position is rather unique as it concentrates on population health.

She has come a long way from blanket baths and placing thermometers under the tongue. The post of supernurse may not be a hands-one one but it doesnt keep Gladys away from the nuts and bolts of nursing.

"I may not be a hands-on nurse, but I influence and change practices of nurses who have a hands-on role."

And is if Gladys isnt busy enough in her new position at her base at Becketts House, Ilford, she is a visiting lecturer at South Bank University where she lectures on infection control and public health aspects of infectious diseases.

In her spare time, Gladys is finishing a masters degree in public health. Plus, like a true high flyer in her private life as well as in public health, she is a civilian committee member of her local air training squadron and helps out whenever she can spare the time.

Which all goes to prove that whether at work or with her family Gladys really is super.

By.Doreen Friend