Name
Bethan Shiers
Job Title
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACHD CNS)- South & West Wales
Interests / expertise / research in CHD
Bethan qualified in Adult Nursing at the University of West England and worked as a cardiac and ACHD staff nurse at the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI). Whilst working on the cardiac ward she soon developed a keen interest in patients with congenital heart disease – she would often be ‘googling’ the patients’ cardiac anatomies and was fascinated with the variety of heart condition types and the reparative interventions and surgeries these patients had been through. Bethan soon realised the importance of the need for life-long follow up and requirement of specialist holistic support for these patients.
Bethan's interest in ACHD was recognised and she was lucky enough to be offered a post as an ACHD Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at the ACHD specialist surgical centre in Bristol for three years. She joined a team of two other ACHD CNSs who taught her a vast amount in the world of ACHD.
In 2015 a post became available for two ACHD CNSs in Wales to help expand the ACHD service. Prior to this there was no Specialist Nurse support for ACHD patients in South Wales. Bethan recognised the need for this service and was very grateful for the opportunity to be able to provide this for the Welsh patients. She has now been working as an ACHD CNS at University Hospital Wales (UHW), a level 2 ACHD centre, for two and a half years with her colleague Sarah Finch. They are dedicated to improving equality of access for patients and providing further nursing support across South and West Wales. Bethan and Sarah cover ACHD clinics in peripheral clinics (level 3 centres) along the M4 corridor and have received positive feedback from patients who are grateful for them bringing the service closer to their homes.
The Team is working on improving the recognition of depression and anxiety and working on expanding its psychological support services. Bethan has enrolled on a post graduate course working towards an MSc in counselling in September 2017, with the aim to further support ACHD patients from a psychological perspective
The Team is also focusing on improving care pathways for its learning disability patients; supporting ACHD cardiac-obstetric developments, developing a robust transition clinic platform and building local palliative care networks and pathways.
Current role and experience
Within my role as an ACHD CNS Bethan educates and supports patients with regards to their individual cardiac anatomy, past interventions/surgeries and discusses future management plans.
Bethan discusses lifestyle issues and promotes health by providing information on smoking cessation, safe alcohol consumption, endocarditis, healthy diet and exercise that is suitable for the patient’s heart condition. She provides contraceptive and pre-pregnancy advice and is a point of contact during pregnancy. She supports patients with learning disabilities in line with the mental capacity act and is currently working on ‘easy read’ patient information. She reviews medication, compliance, titration and explores potential side effects. She discusses psychological needs of patients and refers them if appropriate. In addition, Bethan will develop her own knowledge in psychotherapies through part time University study, where she hopes to obtain an MSc in counselling.
The Team provides a dedicated ‘patient support/advice line’ and receives around 300 phone calls a month.
The Team offers ACHD education to pre and post graduate nursing students and to ward staff/relevant professionals who care for its patient group. It supports, educates and empowers link nurses in UHW and in peripheral clinics.
The Team also carries out audits of its service in order to provide evidence for its necessity. In particular its audits highlight the constancy of ACHD population increase within its service.
As an ACHD CNS Bethan acts as an advocate for patients and strives to always consider patients’ physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs.
Interests outside of work
Bethan enjoys taking part in sports (including obstacle/trail running), playing piano, baking and reading.
