Three more are honoured with Queen’s Nurse titles
GUERNSEY now boasts one of the highest proportion of Queen’s Nurses anywhere in the British Isles – after three more were awarded the prestigious title.
Theresa Prince, Lynda Potter and Alison Place, who received their QN badges at a ceremony in London, join four other local badge holders already honoured by the Queen’s Nurses programme, which promotes and recognises community nurses for their commitment to personal development, professional skills, patient-centred care and nursing practice.
To be awarded the Queen’s Nurses badge means passing a robust, far-reaching and rigorous selection process, which takes place over many months.
‘Anyone who wins this award can be absolutely certain that they are absolutely deserving of their QN badge and can wear it proudly,’ said Dr Crystal Oldman, chief executive of the Queen's Nursing Institute.
‘It is really important for Guernsey to have such a high level of QN badge holders, it really demonstrates the lasting quality of care and is an accolade to the island.
‘Certainly in terms of islands this is the highest proportion of Queen’s Nurses to population,’ said Dr Oldman.
Explaining the process to become a Queen’s Nurse, she said a nurse will nominate themselves by completing an application form which will ask them to explain why they think they are deserving, examples of their care, how they put the patient at the centre, among a whole host of other ‘searching questions’.
Applicants must then be verified by a patient, a peer and a line manager in order to be examined from 360 degrees by all parties a nurse will encounter in their professional world.
Theresa Prince, community health manager (adults), said: ‘I feel very honoured to be presented with the Queen’s Nurse award which recognises the hard work and advancement in community nursing services, by not only myself but all of the community nurses across the island.’
Diabetes nurse Alison Place said: ‘We are all very proud to wear the badge and to have been awarded it. ‘The award is validation for the hard work and dedication we all put into putting the patient first, delivering the highest standard of care. We are now role models for our colleagues to be inspired and apply themselves to become a Queen’s Nurse.’
Karen Leach, service manager, adult community care services, congratulated her colleagues – who join her as a Queen’s Nurse.
‘The Queen’s Nurse award is a significant recognition to all
three nurses for their commitment to excellence in community nursing.
‘The fact that we now have seven QNs on such a small island signifies our overarching commitment to delivering patient-focused care in our community and particularly in the nursing of people in their own home,’ she added.
