Three of our community staff have received a top honour to recognise their commitment to our patients.
Claire Clarke, Garry Cowling and Claire Hebden have been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse (QN). This is a formal recognition by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) that they’re part of a professional network of nurses committed to delivering and leading outstanding care in the community.
Applicants face a rigorous application and assessment process where they must demonstrate their knowledge and expertise. Tracy Means, Care Group Nurse Director and long-standing QN, was keen to support all applications and was so pleased when she heard the news.
Claire Clarke, Clinical Quality Governance Manager, said: “I was completely overwhelmed when I found out. I feel very proud and honoured to receive this accolade. Being a QN means you have access to learning and leadership opportunities, networks, a regional group, free programmes and bursaries and much more.”
The title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) is available to individual nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Nurses, health visitors and midwives with five years’ experience working in the community/primary care/social care are eligible to apply.
Garry, Matron, said: “I recently celebrated 25 years working in the NHS so to receive this title is just the icing on the cake. We’re planning to develop our own NHS Humber Health Partnership QN group in the future and continue to advocate change and improvement.”
The trio, who are based at Global House in Scunthorpe, will attend a presentation ceremony in London next month, where they will receive a badge and a certificate.
Claire Hebden, Matron, said: “Being recognised as a QN is not only a prestigious honour but also a reflection of our ongoing commitment to providing the highest standard of care. I feel very proud as the values of a QN align with my own.”
The QNI is the oldest professional nursing organisation in the UK. It was originally founded to organise the training of district nurses. Tracy is hoping more of the community teams will apply next year and then plans to set up a forum to align with the membership that Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust has joined.