Caring trio earn a right royal title
Health workers awarded Queen’s Nurse status
Three health workers from across Renfrewshire are among a group of 21 people who have been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
NHS workers Madeline Wilson and Brenda Kirk were selected earlier this year to take part in a nine- month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
They were nominated by managers at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde ( NHSGGC) for their passion and commitment in their respective roles.
It marks only the second time the honour has been made in Scotland in almost 50 years following the reintroduction of the historic title last year.
Madeline works as a clinical team leader for district nursing in west Renfrewshire and was selected for her dedication in striving for the highest quality and standard of nursing care and treatment for the community.
Brenda has been working in child health for almost 30 years and is now a clinical nurse specialist and team leader with the disability nursing team for specialist children’s services in Renfrewshire.
She was nominated for the compassionate care she brings to children and families, but also for her knowledge and skills related to child health and development.
After completing the programme successfully, they were each awarded the historic Queen’s Nurse title along with 19 other community nurses at a ceremony in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Madeline said: “I worked as district nursing sister for 25 years in various areas before taking up this post.
“District nursing is a wonderful job, and I hope by sharing my clinical expertise I’m encouraging staff to be the best nurses they can be.
“I am passionate that the role is given the recognition it so richly deserves, and my hope is that the Queen’s Nurse title can help me promote nursing excellence.”
Brenda’s current role is assessing, care planning and providing support to children with additional support needs.
“By empowering families, the team I lead supports them to manage lifelong conditions.
“It is about enabling the child to be all that they can be and building families’ confidence so that they know they are doing everything they can to support their child.
“The Queen’s Nurse programme has been an incredible experience and I am confident having a Queen’s Nurse within the child development nursing specialism helps raise the profile of the crucial contribution nurses make, not only to children and families but also to the wider community,” she explained.
Lesley Wylie, who works for veterans’ charity Erskine, is also among the title winners.
She is the manager of Erskine’s dementia specialist home, in Bishopton, where she is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the home of 40 residents.
Lesley was nominated by bosses at Erskine for her caring and compassionate nursing expertise, as well as for being a supportive and inspirational leader.
Lesley has been working as a care home nurse for almost 20 years and has spent the last 10 years working with Erskine, most recently as the manager of the Erskine Park Home.
She said: “In care home nursing, your drive is to make people’s life worthwhile and meaningful – nothing is too small.
“I can’t imagine working anywhere other than in a care home. I just wouldn’t get the same joy and fulfilment out of my job.
“I am incredibly proud to have gained the Queen’s Nurse title and hope to use it to promote the care home nursing role as an innovative and developing area of practice.”
Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses. They provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well respected figures within their community.
Following the introduction of a national certificate for district nursing, QNIS ceased training, awarding the Queen’s Nurse title for the final time in 1969.
However, the decision was made to reintroduce Queen’s Nurses to Scotland last year, with 20 community nurses chosen to take part in a development programme which would see them become the first modern Queen’s Nurses.