Seven nurses at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse which is a prestigious honour.
A Queen's Nurse is someone who is committed to high standards of practice and patient-centred care. The Queens Nurse Institute supports innovation and best practice, in order to improve care for patients. The title is available to individual nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice.
The nurses will be attending a Ceremony in London on the 28th of November to receive their award. They are: -
- Linda Turner, Quality Matron Community Services
- Hannah Reeson, District Nursing Sister/Team Lead, Wigton
- Michael Owens, District Nursing Team Lead, Carlisle
- Annabelle Hall, Clinical Nursing Team Lead, Carlisle
- Zoe Fullagar , ICC Manager - Copeland
- Julie Swanston, Health Visitor and Clinical lead at Maryport
- Zoe Davies, District Nurse Team Lead, Wigton
Sali Pilcher, Associate Director of Quality & Nursing and Queens’s nurse said “I am really proud of them all and what they have achieved. We now have a total of 18 Queens Nurses in both the Community, Integrated Care Communities and Children’s Services committed to championing the profile of community nursing and services, driving forward quality improvements, safety and professional standards. The QNI has been leading safe nursing workloads nationally and this is shaping our workforce review locally."
Linda Turner, Quality Matron Community Services, explained “I am a Registered Learning Disability Nurse working in the role of Quality Matron. My role involves supporting a number of community based services to ensure we provide quality safe services for our patients. I’m delighted to have been awarded the title of Queens Nurse and as part of this national network now I will proudly do all I can to further promote the needs of patients who require additional support and to showcase the work NCIC does in Cumbria to ensure patients have a good experience whilst in our care. Being part of this network will provide such great opportunity for further learning and I’m excited to see what opportunities this opens up for us.”
Hannah Reeson, District Nursing Sister/Team Lead, Wigton told us “The title of Queens Nurse is
an honour and privilege. The Queens Nurse title is familiar with my own values of compassion, integrity and honesty. I also strive to become a role model for all nurses and aspiring nurses. Becoming a Queens’s nurse will enhance this and allow me to inspire and achieve. The honour of being part of an organisation with 134 years of history is an inspiration and give me the opportunity to influence policy and practice. To be part of this Institute would be the proudest part of my career so far.
“I am passionate about community nursing thinking about the bigger picture. Becoming a Queen’s nurse would assist me in this by networking, sharing ideas, best practice and hearing other cases or scenarios. In turn I would like this to improve patient outcomes in my area. Having the title of Queens Nurse would also allow me the resource to see a future where we explore technology further for our patients, carers and families. I am committed to providing best care for patients, being a role model for colleagues and promoting care in the home and wider community. I believe being part of the Queens Nursing Institute would validate my commitment to high standards of care, leadership and education and learning.”
Michael Owens, District Nursing Team Lead, Carlisle said “Annabelle and I are District Nurse Team Leaders at Carlisle Network ICC.
We are delighted and humbled to be recognised with a Queen’s Nurse award, which recognises a commitment to community nursing. We are both privileged and fortunate lead a fantastic team of nurses and healthcare assistants, who go above and beyond on a daily basis to provide an excellent standard of support and care to patients in the community. It is wonderful to see vital work of community nurses being recognised in this way.”
Zoe Fullagar, ICC Manager in Copeland reflected on her Queens Nurse Award “It has been quite overwhelming to
have been successful in being offered the Queen’s Nurse award. I come from a family of people who have worked in the NHS and the health service pre NHS. My grandmother was a District Nurse from the 1920’s so I really feel that I am carrying on her legacy as well as that of my late father who was a GP and had immense respect for community nurses.
“My journey into community nursing has been an interesting one and not the most straight forward. I started my career working in an in-patient mental health ward before moving into the community in 2005. I moved to Cumbria in 2008 and started working in the prison as a staff nurse but my passion for community nursing was just too strong. I came to Copeland in 2012 as a staff nurse and since then I have successfully completed my CSP DN course, worked as a District Nursing Sister and am now the Operational Lead of Copeland ICC.
“I work with an amazing group of staff who are as passionate about community care as I am, it is such a privilege to work with them all and I consider this award as much for them as it is for me. I could not have been successful in this award without their hard work and dedication to their patients and colleagues.”
Julie Swanston Health Visitor and Clinical lead at Maryport says: “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this recognition. Being a health visitor is the best and most rewarding job in the world, and being able to support the children and families I am working with is my passion.
“I see this award as the next step for me in my career, and I hope to continue to learn and at the same time support anyone else I am able to. I would like to firstly and foremost thank my family, and I would also like to thank my manager and clinical leadership team. Thanks must also go to the Allerdale and Copeland Health Visiting team and those who support us in our health visiting role, we are all on this journey together, and I see this achievement as very much a team effort.
“Finally the main recognition must go to the client’s that have contributed to this award on my behalf, I am humbled and very grateful.”
The title of Queen’s Nurse is open to registered nurses with more than five years’ experience working in the community. Managers and patients provide feedback about applicants, which is assessed along with their application. More information about how to apply is available at Queen’s Nursing Institute is a registered charity founded in 1887
Photographs: Linda Turner, Hannah Reeson, Annabelle Hall, Michael Owens, Zoe Fullagar, Julie Swanston