Sophie Dela Cruz

Qualifications

BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Independent Prescribing, MSc Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Paediatric

Specialisms

ANP Urgent Care/Same day appointments & out of hours. Aesthetics practitioner.

Introduction

I qualified as a nurse in 2011. I currently work autonomously in Primary care in Urgent care/same day appointments as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and cover both inner city and more rural practices as well as working for Out of Hours both face to face and also remote triage. Working for such a diverse patient population with regards to age and socio-economic status has enabled me to become competent in minor illness and urgent care as well as being aware of safeguarding both adults and children. I see a range of patients including newborns to the elderly and regularly triage remotely using a variety of tools to aid in diagnosis such as virtual consultations and assessing certain conditions with a in depth history and picture messages (where appropriate). This role has enabled me to develop into an autonomous practitioner with significant knowledge of minor illness and chronic problems. I have completed my Independent Prescribing, Paediatric Assessment and Reasoning, Leadership and Management during this time, all at Masters Level.

I qualified as an Aesthetic Practitioner in 2018 and currently run my own successful Aesthetics clinic, which demands meticulous provision of information to achieve informed consent, keeping of accurate, detailed documentation and excellent care and after care. Aesthetics is fast becoming unsafe due to the amount of unregulated practitioners and the lack of safety is something I feel very passionately about. 

My previous roles as a complex wound specialist nurse has given me invaluable experience in wound management in complex patients. I have gained a vast knowledge of wounds, tissue viability, causes of delay in wound healing, compression bandaging, doppler assessment, as well as health promotion.

My role as a forensic nurse for Sexual Assault has enabled me develop impeccable documentation skills as my record could be used in a court of law, if prosecution were to take place. This job role also enhanced my holistic and empathetic qualities which is important for all nurses.

As a newly qualified nurse, I worked in vascular surgery and enjoyed the aspects of working as part of a team and seeing the journey of a very poorly patient to one hopefully being discharged. Working on a busy surgical ward gave me vast knowledge in vascular procedures, wound care and general ward care including drug administration, documentation, end of life care, catheter care, as well as infection control.

I have also worked in the Cancer Research Department where I worked for approximately 1 year, during which I gained further knowledge in documentation, informed consent as well as 'scanning' notes to retrieve important information.

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.