Congratulations are in order for five Livewell nurses who have been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) by The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QNCI).
The esteemed title of Queens Nurse recognises a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning, leadership and nursing practice in the community.
It has its roots in the late Victorian era, to indicate an enhanced level of training undertaken by a hospital-trained nurse to prepare them to work as a District Nurse.
In 2007, after a gap of 40 years, the QICN decided to bring the QN title back but in a different form. Now people apply to be a QN, providing evidence of their experience and skills, supported by patient and colleague references. Any nurse with at least five years’ experience working in the community can apply, not just District Nurses.
Emma Congdon, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse and Child Protection Supervisor, said: “Becoming a Queen’s Nurse has long been an aspiration of mine. I feel I have reached a stage in my career where I have learnt so much from each experience I have had as a Health Visitor, which has shaped the practitioner I have become.
“I am passionate about sharing my experiences whilst promoting personal and professional development of staff and students, all alongside a professional commitment to delivering excellence in community nursing as a Health Visitor.”
Emma Congdon, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse and Child Protection Supervisor
Emma Fovargue, Community Matron, said: “The Queen’s Nurse title shows how committed I am to community nursing, ensuring that I don’t just provide task orientated care but that the patient is the pivotal in everything we say and do.
“As a Queen’s Nurse I hope to show my team and the wider community how passionate I am in delivering the best care in the right place for our patients and their carers.”
Emma Fovargue, Community Matron
Bobbi Grace-Gill, District Nursing Practice Facilitator, said “What excites me most about the Queen’s Nurse title is the chance to learn from the incredible, inspirational nurses within the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) and draw from their wealth of knowledge and experience. The warmth and kindness I’ve already received from those in the network has demonstrated the positive power of this amazing community.
“I’m looking forward to strengthening my own practice and helping create positive change whilst ensuring my colleagues feel heard, valued and supported. I’m eager to carry the values of the QICN forward in my work and continue growing within this exceptional professional community.”
Bobbi Grace-Gill, District Nursing Practice Facilitator
Sarah Gray, District Nurse Specialist Practitioner, said: “I am so proud to have been awarded this title and to be able to join a network that shares a commitment to improving practice and making things better for patients and our nursing teams.
“Becoming a Queen’s Nurse feels like the next step on the District Nursing pathway and a natural progression to sharing and collaborating with others and continuing to evolve my practice.”
Sarah Gray, District Nurse Specialist Practitioner
Vikki Cotton, Health Improvement Manager, said: “I was both delighted and humbled to receive this honour. I was inspired to apply due to knowing some of the amazing Queen’s Nurses already working in Livewell Southwest, but also thanks to the encouragement and support of my colleagues.
“I’m passionate about being part of a team addressing health inequalities and the health burden on marginalised and deprived communities. The Queens Nurse Institute has forums and pathways to improve the health of marginalised groups- and I hope to both learn and contribute to this.”
Vikki Cotton, Health Improvement Manager
These latest honourees join Livewell’s existing Queen’s Nurses – Shona Cornish, Hazel Roberts, Theresa Mitchell, Joanne Beniston, Sonia Green, Hannah Blake, Karen Mitchell, Nicola Arnold, Paula Radcliffe, Tracy Jones, Sara Kirkup, Helen Waddington, Sian Chapman, Becky Finch, Shirley Maculiffe, Megan Bonner and Lisa Veale.
Shona Cornish, Nursing Professional Lead for Livewell Southwest, said: “I am incredibly proud to see members of our nursing team being awarded the prestigious Queen’s Nursing Award. This recognition is a testament to their unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and their dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
“As Nursing Professional Lead, I am inspired by their achievements and grateful for the positive impact they continue to make every day. This award reinforces the vital role of nursing in shaping the future of healthcare and reminds us all of the difference we can make when we lead with passion and purpose.”
If you would like to know more about becoming a Queen’s Nurse please visit: https://qni.org.uk/
