Gloria Lawmann qualified as a nurse back in 1991, initially working in different areas. She then trained and practised as a midwife for several years before transferring to palliative care. “I wanted to help more than deliver healthy babies,” she explained, “so, I got involved with helping those unfortunate mothers who had lost their child in birth.”

Our First Ward Manager

Transferring to palliative care in 2002, she trained as a Gold Standard Framework champion. “This helps to recognise and help people in the final year of their life, providing support and guidance on this journey,” said Gloria.

At this time, she was working with her local Hospice and GP network in the Leigh area of Lancashire. She also achieved a degree in Nursing Practice Leadership and management, eventually joining St. Rocco’s as a Staff Nurse mainly on the day unit in Aug 2014, she also worked on the in-patient unit. After a year, she became our first Ward Manager and eventually our Registered manager.

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

“I have always wanted to give more to my patients,” explained Gloria, “and although I enjoyed my work as Ward manager, I wanted to get more hands-on.” So, when the opportunity to qualify as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) arose, Gloria jumped at it.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners are educated at Masters Level in clinical practice and have been assessed as competent in practice using their expert clinical knowledge and skills. They have the freedom and authority to act, making autonomous decisions in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Gloria began her ANP training in 2018 and became St. Rocco’s first ANP in 2019. “I believe this role is more beneficial to our patients,” she concluded. “I am now qualified to do nearly everything a Doctor can do, and toed help our care team more than I could do previously. This is not only very rewarding but ensures that we can continue to provide the high standards of care that our patients have come to expect.”