Clara Murtagh of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street won the Nurse of the Year Award at the 2011 SMA Nutrition maternity & infant Awards. Clara was honoured for her deep commitment to the profession and for the quality of patient care she has provided as a paediatric nurse at Temple Street over the last ten years. Clara is currently Manager of St. Gabriel’s Ward, an acute 14-bed surgical ward.
Mona Baker, acting CEO at Temple Street said “Throughout her time with us, Clara’s dedication and enthusiasm have been exemplary. Her empathy and compassion are key components in the delivery of a holistic family-centred approach. Clara has shown huge levels of commitment, insight, flexibility, innovation and willingness to deliver the highest standard of patient care.
Finbarr and Mary Sheehan, parents of one of Clara’s patients, are hugely impressed and appreciative of Clara’s work at the hospital, “Clara created an immediate bond with Mark, a bond which grows stronger every day. The attitude of a leader is contagious and this is certainly true of Clara’s leadership style. Her team radiates confidence and compassion despite some of the heart wrenching cases that they face.”
Established in 1872, the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street is a national facility that provides paediatric care to children from all over Ireland. Each year, over 130,000 sick children are cared for in Temple Street, of which one-third of inpatients come from outside Dublin. The Accident and Emergency Department caters for almost 50,000 children annually, making it one of the busiest A&E facilities in Europe. Major specialities at Children’s University Hospital include Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Craniofacial surgery, Orthopaedic, ENT and Plastic Surgery.
