Seven community nurses awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
A number of our community nurses have been recognised for their commitment to high standards and patient centred care by achieving the Queen's Nurse Award.
The nurses who will receive their award at a formal ceremony in London on December 8th are:
- Nicola Hyslop, Advanced Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Champion.
- Rebecca Simpson, District Nurse Team Lead Brampton and Longtown
- Joely Bradley, Wigton District Nurse Team Lead
- Laura Burns, Wigton Community Staff Nurse
- Donna Hetherington, Wigton Community Staff Nurse
- Lisa Pepper, Keswick Community Staff Nurse
- Cara Colgan, Penrith Community Staff Nurse
Jill Foster, Chief Nurse at NCIC, shared her praise for NCIC's new Queen’s Nurses.
She said: “We are so delighted that seven of the trust’s nurses have their hard work and achievements recognised by receiving the Queen’s Nurse title.
“The nurses are highly-competent and passionate professionals, which the Queen’s Nurse title demonstrates. They are an asset to NCIC, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their dedication and compassion to our patients.”
The Queen's 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.
CASE STUDIES
Nicola Hyslop, Advanced Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Champion.
Nicola has worked for NCIC for 24 years.
She said: “I was encouraged to apply by Linda Graham (DN Team Lead, Penrith) whose team I have worked in collaboration with to support a number of shared patients.”
Nicola explained the criteria you have to fulfil to be considered for the award: “It is formal recognition that you are part of a professional network of nurses committed to delivering and leading outstanding care in the community by ensuring that you meet the criteria accepted by assessors.
“I had to submit my own supporting evidence as well as evidence from my line manager and patients in support of the application to evidence that I uphold the appropriate standards of care.”
Nicola said she was “beyond thrilled” when she received an email from the Queens Nursing Institute informing her that she had been successful.
She said: “I am beyond thrilled to have the work that I carry out on behalf of my patients be recognised and to be joining such a prestigious group of nursing colleagues.
“My family were thrilled that my hard work has been recognised.”
Nicola will attend the Queens Nursing Institute Annual Awards Ceremony in London on December 8.
Rebecca Simpson, District team lead for Brampton and Longtown 
Rebecca said her family were “shocked and proud” when she told them that she was being given a Queens Nurse Award.
Rebecca has been a nurse for 10 years. She started as a community staff nurse six years ago and progressed her career with Carlisle Healthcare District Nurses.
In January 2023 she moved to the Brampton and Longtown team.
She said: “The Queens Nurse award is a voluntary application, which involved an application form and writing a personal statement. As part of this, I was also required to gain supportive statements from my manager, colleagues and lead nurse for the community services, who were required to provide supportive statements for my application.
“This process involved some clinical supervision and reflection on my development. In the application, I had to demonstrate my abilities leadership skills and my contribution to community nursing, at a team level and also across the Trust.
“Becoming a Queen’s nurse is a prestigious title and one which will not be taken lightly. It provides me with the opportunity to network with other exceptional nurses that work across the country. I will be representing District Nursing as a profession and also representing the trust. I am born and bred Cumbrian girl – so I will also be representing the north Cumbria county.”
Rebecca will also be attending the ceremony in London.