NCH&C celebrates as two more nurses receive the Queen’s Nurse title
NCH&C celebrates as two more nurses receive the Queen’s Nurse title
Two nurses from Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust have been awarded the Queen’s Nurse title: Carolyn Fowler, Director of Nursing & Quality, and Elizabeth Wilkin, a Community Nurse in the North.
The Queen’s Nurse Title recognises individual nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. It is awarded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute: a national organisation dedicated to supporting and celebrating community nurses.
To receive the Queen’s Nurse title, nurses must prove that they have over five years’ experience in community nursing, and provide written statements demonstrating their knowledge and expertise.
There are just 12 Queen’s Nurses in Norfolk, and around 1,700 across the UK. NCH&C already has two Queen’s Nurses among its ranks, bringing our total up to four.
John Webster, Interim Chief Executive at Norfolk Community Health & Care, shared his praise for the trust’s new Queen’s Nurses:
“We are so delighted that two of the trust’s nurses have their hard work and achievements recognised by receiving the Queen’s Nurse title.
“Carolyn and Elizabeth are highly-competent and passionate professionals, which the Queen’s Nurse title demonstrates. They are both an asset to the trust, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their dedication and compassion to our patients.”
Carolyn Fowler joined NCH&C back in 2019. As our Director of Nursing and Quality, Carolyn’s role focusses on always improving patient safety and experience at the trust. She previously worked as Deputy Director of Safer Care and Standards at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Deputy Chief Nurse at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
Carolyn expressed her delight at receiving the Queen’s Nurse title:
“I have always been proud to be a nurse, and especially a community nurse, having worked as a District Nurse and Community Macmillan Nurse in my career. It is a real honour to be recognised with the title of Queen’s Nurse. Working in the community is an extra special part of the NHS, where you can really feel like you are making a difference for your patients in their home environments.’’
“The last two years have been some of the most challenging in my career, so to receive the Queen’s Nurse title for my work within the community NHS is incredibly rewarding.”
Elizabeth Wilkin is currently studying District Nursing at the University of Suffolk to further her career. She was previously a Community Link Nurse on the NN3 team at NCH&C.
Elizabeth said:
“I am so delighted to receive the Queen’s Nurse title. Although it sounds extremely clichéd, I do feel that Community Care is in my blood. My dad worked as a driver alongside the versatile Out of Hours Community Nursing Team and my Mum founded the Swift/Night Owl service which myself and colleagues often signpost to vulnerable patients.”
In her Queen’s Nurse application, Elizabeth praised the contributions of her colleagues at NCH&C who have supported her: “Since qualifying, I have been mentored and supported by some extraordinary individuals including Community Healthcare Assistants, Assistant Practitioners and Registered Nurses. My Queen’s Nurse nomination is not only recognition for myself, but for the whole team who have supported me.”
NCH&C supports any nurses who wish to apply for the Queen’s Nurse title. Although applications are closed for the 2021 cohort, you can find out more about applying here.
