Nicola  Cook
      • Nicola Cook
      • Registered Nurse
    • Contact

      • View vcard
    • Departments

    • Address

      • 9 Chess Business Park
      • Moor Road
      • Chesham
      • Buckinghamshire
      • HP5 1SD
      • 01494 792711

Nicola Cook

Registered Nurse

Qualifications

RN, MSc Nursing Research & Practice Development, PG Cert Research

Specialisms 

  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Spinal Surgery
  • PEG & Tracheostomy Management

Introduction

I qualified as a nurse in 1985 and worked full time within the NHS until March 2018.

My NHS career has been spent working within the field of neurosciences, with my main area of expertise being in the area of neurosurgery  in both neurosurgical wards and critical care areas. I have worked in these areas as a clinical nurse, Ward Manager, Matron and Senior Nurse. I have also gained post registration qualifications in this area.

As a Senior Nurse, I gained extensive experience in investigating issues within my clinical areas and other areas within the wider hospital environment. I have investigated complaints, personnel issues, root cause analysis and serious incidents. These have encompassed governance and safety issues, specifically safeguarding, falls, pressure damage and drug errors. This experience has enabled me to collate and analyse information for reports, providing conclusions and recommendations. As a result of this , I have been required to give evidence at Coroner’s Courts, Employment Tribunals and at the NMC. 

I have also been employed as a Practice Development Nurse. This involved developing presentations and teaching programmes for staff working within the Critical Care environment. This involved conducting small group sessions and also holding large seminars. 

I returned to clinical practice in January 2019 as a bank nurse at the Royal Free Hospital. I am required to work across multiple clinical areas in this role. I work across all wards in the hospital, across multiple specialities, which has enabled me to remain flexible and adaptable in my nursing practice. I have also worked regularly within the Planned Investigation and Therapy Unit, where  I administer specialist treatment infusions for neurology, gastro-enterology and rheumatology patients.  I also work regularly in the ophthalmology day surgery unit, providing pre and post operative care for patients undergoing routine and emergency eye surgery.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.