TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER, 2020

Immediate release photo attached: Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Nurse Zanna Christie

Tayside nurse success in Cardiovascular Nurse of the Year Award

NHS Tayside nurse Susanne (Zanna) Christie was awarded second place in the prestigious British Journal of Nursing Cardiovascular Nurse of the Year Award. This national award is given in recognition of longstanding and sustained contributions to cardiology and patient care.

Zanna is a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Nurse working in NHS Tayside’s Cardiology Service specialising in arrhythmia management in patients.

She has played a pivotal role helping to identify ways in which improvements could be made in arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation management of cardiac patients resulting in the development of the Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist role within NHS Tayside.

Arrhythmias or heart rhythm problems can affect all age groups and are experienced by more than two million people a year in the UK. Most people with an abnormal heart rhythm can lead a normal life if it is properly diagnosed.

Commenting on her award, Zanna wanted to highlight the contribution of her colleagues by saying, “I was delighted to be awarded second place in the BJN Cardiovascular Nurse of the Year Award.

“Although my name is attached to the award I very much feel this belongs to the whole team who have worked tirelessly to make the changes which have led to improvements in the Cardiology Service in Tayside.

“As a team we have been able to incorporate new patient groups and help shape the service into what it has become today, one we are all extremely proud of.”  

A key improvement to NHS Tayside’s Cardiology Service has been the establishment of Rapid Access Atrial Fibrillation Clinics which are held across Tayside. These clinics have enabled a more focused streamlining of the patient journey and they have expanded to include complex patients who require anti-arrhythmic drug management.   

Zanna was also closely involved in developing the specialist nurse role for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions (ICC) to support those patients who have a genetic disorder that primarily affects the heart.

Both of these integrated nursing roles have enabled the development of NHS Tayside’s Cardiology Services and have made a huge contribution to the delivery of patient-centred holistic care in Tayside.  

Contact:

Anna Michie

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138