Federica works as an advanced practitioner in Surgery at the complex hernia centre North Devon District hospital. She is a nurse by background and completed her Advanced Practice apprenticeship to gain her NHSE digital badge in 2021.
Federica works at Level 7 across the four pillars of
advanced practice
| Clinical | – Developing advanced assessment, diagnostic, and management skills specific to Abdominal Wall and Upper GI surgery. – Designing and implementing a patient pre-optimization program addressing modifiable risk factors. – Engaging in continuing professional development to maintain and expand clinical expertise. |
| Leadership | – Leading and co-ordinating weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings to streamline patient care planning. – Leading the Surgical Emergency Clinic, managing complex patient cases autonomously improving patient flow. |
| Education | – Collaboration with Plymouth University supervising undergraduate nursing and postgraduate students. – Delivering clinical teaching sessions and facilitated case-based discussions to support ongoing multi professional staff development. – Supervising and mentoring junior staff and students, fostering a supportive learning environment. |
| Research | – First author and contributor to several papers on surgical service improvements at North Devon District Hospital. – Collaborator on service development and quality improvement projects within the general surgery department. – Applies evidence-based practice principles to clinical decision-making and service delivery enhancements. – Participates in audit and quality improvement projects to evaluate and improve patient care outcomes. |
Why advanced Practice?
I was inspired to become an Advanced Practitioner through a combination of personal experience and professional growth. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work closely with an Advanced Practitioner who demonstrated not only expert clinical knowledge but also a holistic approach to patient care. Their ability to lead, make autonomous decisions, and support both patients and the wider multidisciplinary team truly impressed me. The ability to shape clinical practice and mentor others inspired me to further my education and competencies so I could make a similar impact in patient outcomes and system improvement.
What was the best thing about your training?
During my training, I particularly enjoyed the blend of academic learning and hands-on experience. Applying theory directly to practice, and seeing improvements in patient outcomes as a result, was incredibly motivating. I also valued the opportunity to work across disciplines, learning from the multidisciplinary team. In my current role, I find great satisfaction in leading the pre-optimisation program and running the surgical emergency clinic—especially when I can support patients through challenging journeys and help them reach their surgery safely and successfully. Additionally, mentoring students and contributing to research has allowed me to give back to the profession and stay engaged in continuous learning.
Feedback from a patient: “Just a note to thank you all for the great service and help I received throughout my robotically assisted procedure to repair an Inguinal Hernia. From the initial consultation to the procedure itself and the aftercare follow up, everyone on the team have been very helpful. My very best wishes to you all, with special thanks to Federica Cocciolo.”
Why is advanced practice good for patients?
Advanced Practitioners bring a unique combination of clinical skills, continuity, and a holistic approach to care that directly benefits both patients and the service. Working at the advanced level of practice enables the clinician to manage treatment plans autonomously, which reduces delays in care and improves patient flow—particularly in high-pressure environments like surgery.
From a patient perspective, the continuity and accessibility are key to a positive experience. In some other models of service, patients may see different professionals at each step, however in this service the advanced practitioner aims to provide consistent care throughout the patients’ journey. This builds trust and improves communication between patients, families, and the wider multidisciplinary team, ensuring that patients are fully informed and involved in their care journey.
Feedback from a colleague: “Federica is incredibly professional, hardworking, caring, thorough and just great. She takes all feedback well and has learned so much in the last few years. She is an excellent communicator and great to work with. She is extremely proficient at identifying salient points in the history and very good at presenting cases in the correct depth, she is a huge asset to the team.”
What is the future vision for your service?
My vision for Advanced Practice within our service is to continue expanding the role to further embed patient-centred care, improve efficiency, and support innovation within surgical pathways. I see Advanced Practitioners playing an increasingly integral part in managing complex cases, leading multidisciplinary teams, and driving service development initiatives.
Specifically, I hope to develop the pre-optimisation program further, incorporating more personalized care plans and leveraging digital health tools to support patient engagement and remote monitoring. I hope this will improve patient outcomes and reduce length of stay. I aim to continue growing clinically and academically, taking on greater leadership responsibilities, such as service redesign and education, while maintaining a strong clinical presence. I also want to foster closer collaboration with universities and training programs to help develop future Advanced Practitioners.
Feedback from a colleague: “Federica has excellent communication skills and an extremely supportive approach to patient care – listens and acknowledges patient’s issues/concerns and proactively tries to support/resolve these when possible, she develops a strong level of trust and a confident solid relationship between her, the patient and the clinical team which goes a long way to providing gold standard patient care and successful outcomes for treatment.”