Inspired by her own experiences as patient, relative and carer, Carrie Calvin has become Walsall’s first Digital Nurse after choosing healthcare as a career.
Carrie, 30, supports clinicians in ensuring a smooth transition between existing systems and digital ones at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Based in the Business Change Team in Digital Services at the Manor Hospital, she offers clinical input to IT colleagues and reassurance to clinicians in the new role, which is part of NHS England’s vision to digitise healthcare.
Carrie, managed by Lisa Cooper (pictured), is involved in the planning and deployment of systems such as Connect – an electronic patient handover system – plus other projects including both medicines management and referral forms in the community.
“It’s a new role and it’s very exciting with so many changes happening – I’m really enjoying it,” said Carrie, who lives in Darlaston. “It’s teaching me a lot which I can take into new projects.
“Any digital system will impact on clinicians and patients. Business analysts look at how things currently are and how they will look, but they haven’t worked clinically so being that contact offering clinical input is invaluable.
“Change can be intimidating so it’s about being that support in the transition, and reassuring clinicians that they have an ally and that the changes are being done for their benefit.
“I’ve had really positive feedback so far – Paediatrics have been really big advocates and one Nurse said she was really grateful as I offered a different perspective.
“Connect gives day and nightshift Nursing staff a brief summary of each patient, enabling staff to hand over tasks and have conversations and send direct messages between teams. Phase two will include Doctors, Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists and specialist Nurses.”
It’s been some journey for the former events administrator, who was 15 when she lost dad Dave Eagleton, 50, through liver disease.
At 18 she was told she would never become a Nurse following a serious back injury.
After losing her dad, Carrie became a part-time carer for mum Trish Eagleton, who had COPD and died of respiratory problems and pneumonia in January 2023, aged 66, while Carrie was a Staff Nurse in Emergency Department.
“I’ve been a patient, a relative of a patient and a carer, and seeing the care my mum and dad received inspired me to become a Nurse,” said Carrie.
“The staff were brilliant with them and the compassion showed to my mum by Ward 17 at the Manor was indescribable. Some are still there and they always welcome me.”
Undeterred by her injury, she turned to Nursing in her mid-20s. During her studying for her MNurs Integrated Master’s in Adult Nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, she successfully nominated Walsall Healthcare’s Rapid Response Team for the Placement Provider of the Year at its Students’ Union Awards.
Carrie herself was nominated for the Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs Award in the 2022 Student Nursing Times Awards after serving as school representative.
After graduating she returned to the Manor in the Emergency Department, before going to the community to work with the Clinical Intervention Team.
This is predominantly the outpatient antibiotic service, including intravenous medication. It also does deep vein thrombosis assessments and cellulitis assessments.