This in from the IW NHS. Ed
Sharon Hopkins, a Community Matron based at Brookside Health Centre and Jenni Edgington, Modern Matron for District Nursing, based at St. Mary’s Hospital, have been given the title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).
The title is not an award for past service, but indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. Nurses who hold the title benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.
Sarah Johnston, Deputy Director of Nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital, said:
“This is a very significant accolade for our nursing staff to achieve. As an organisation we strive to develop our staff to be the best that they can be and we are delighted to have two nurses achieve this recognition.”
Delighted with her award, Sharon Hopkins, said:
“I am really looking forward to making contact with other Queen’s Nurses. I have been awarded the title for a duration of five years and in that time I will be asked to show how I am continuing to contribute to the Island community. I am really keen to do some work with the homeless and look at how I can help them. I want to get involved and really make a difference; it’s the best bit about my job.”
Speaking with pride, Jenni Edgington said:
“Gaining the Queen’s Nurse title is a privilege and an achievement of which I am very proud. I am absolutely committed to providing high standards of care in the community, helping to raise the profile of District Nursing, make improvements in practice and to act as a leader and role model to others. Being a Queen’s Nurse also provides me with the opportunity to network with other QNs around the country and be part of an organisation that can influence national policies that affect both healthcare at home as well as the quality of community nursing services.”
The QNI’s Autumn Awards ceremony was held on Monday 10 November at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London and was attended by over 200 people including eighty new Queen’s Nurses, and senior figures from the nursing and healthcare arenas.
Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of the QNI said:
“Congratulations are due to Sharon and Jenni for their success. Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world and our role is to support them as effectively as we can. The QN title is a key part of this and we would encourage other community nurses to apply.”
Since the scheme began, the QNI has awarded the Queen’s Nurse title to five Island nurses in total:
- Jenni Edgington
- Sharon Hopkins
- Sanjay Ramdany
- Emma Murray
- Alison Ward
