Two mental health nurses have been honoured for their work by being awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse.
Sarah Sanders and Jenny Walker, from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, received the honour from Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Vice President and Patron of the Mary Seacole Trust, and Professor John Unsworth OBE, Chair of Council, The QNI, at a ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London.
Sarah, from Norwich, is a clinical nurse specialist with the Central Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, which covers North Norfolk, South Norfolk and Norwich, and Jenny, who lives in South Norfolk, is an advanced nurse practitioner working with the Inclusion Health and Homelessness Team in Norwich.
The Queen’s Nurse title is given to individuals who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. At this year’s ceremony, 587 new titles were given, taking the total number to more than 3,500.
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) brought together more than 500 community nurses to highlight the exceptional work they do across nursing services, education, innovation and leadership, and the vital role they play in the healthcare system.
As well as the Queen’s Nurse awards, the event included the presentation of some of the most prestigious awards in nursing, including the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Award for Outstanding Service, the International Community Nurse of the Year Award, and memorial prizes for post-registration nursing students.
Jenny said she was “hugely proud” to be a nurse and to have been awarded the Queen’s Nurse title. “In my role as an inclusion health and homelessness nurse, I have the privilege of supporting patients and their families often during some of the toughest periods of their lives. The Queen’s Nursing Institute truly encapsulates and celebrates the essence of nursing, promoting excellent care for everyone, where and when they need it, working in partnership and challenging inequalities.
“The event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate with others who share these values and to commit to continuing to provide high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.”
Sarah said she hoped she could be a role model and inspire others to have the confidence apply to become a Queen’s Nurse.
“I am incredibly proud to be a mental health nurse and have had the privilege of working in some wonderful teams and with fantastic and talented people,” she said. “Receiving the Queen’s Nurse award is a further honour and enables me to showcase the values and commitment of all clinicians working in community care.”
The title of Queen’s Nurse is open to registered nurses with more than five years’ experience working in the community. Managers and patients provide feedback about applicants, which is assessed along with their application.
Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive of the QNI said: “On behalf of the QNI I would like to congratulate Sarah and Jenny and welcome them as a Queen’s Nurse. Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high-quality healthcare across the country. The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is rigorous and requires clear commitment to improving care for patients, their families and carers.”
NSFT Chief Nurse Anthony Deery congratulated Sarah and Jenny on their achievement and said: “This is a tremendous accolade for a nurse to receive, which demonstrates commitment and exceptional work for the benefit of our services users and their families, making NSFT a safer, kinder and better organisation.”
