Queen’s Nurse honour for Kitty
A COMMUNITY nurse based at Campbeltown hospital has been selected to take part in a special professional development programme that will earn her the right to use the coveted title of Queen’s Nurse.
Kitty Millar, a practice nurse at the Campbeltown Health Centre, is part of a group of 20 community nurses selected by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) to join the first group of 21st century Queen’s Nurses.
She joins Michelle Duffy, another community nurse from NHS Highland, on the programme.
Michelle is an advanced nurse in respiratory care, based in the board’s North and West operational unit in Inverness.
On completion of the programme, both Kitty and Michelle will be the first nurses to receive the title in Scotland for almost 50 years.
QNIS was established by Queen Victoria in 1889 in honour of her golden jubilee. Historically, the Queen’s Nurse title was awarded to nurses who completed training that equipped them to work in the community. They provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes, and were well respected in the communities in which they practised.
The modern Queen’s Nurses, drawn from health boards and other independent organisations across Scotland, will enable teams to promote health improvement and deliver quality care.
Heidi May, NHS Highland’s director of nursing, said: ‘I am delighted that Michelle and Kitty have been chosen for the programme.
‘The shift towards providing more care closer to people’s homes offers exciting opportunities for the further development of community nursing.’
Once they have completed the QNIS development programme, the modern Queen’s Nurses will support new models of care to promote health improvement and local delivery of services.
The new Queen’s Nurses will take part in a nine-month programme, developing and honing their existing skills and capabilities, culminating in an awards ceremony in December.
Clare Cable, chief executive and nurse director of QNIS, said: ‘All the nurses who are taking part in our programme have demonstrated their impact as experienced practitioners and clinical leaders.
‘Now they want to further enhance their professional skills by really making a difference for Scotland’s communities as Queen’s Nurses.’