Two of our staff have achieved a remarkable milestone by being named among only 21 nurses in Scotland to receive the esteemed title of Queen’s Nurse this year.
Lauren Magunnigal, a charge nurse in University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire Older Adult Community Mental Health team, was joined by her family and manager at a ceremony in Edinburgh celebrating the vital role community nurses, health visitors and midwives carry out across the country.
Lauren successfully completed a rigorous nine-month Queen’s Nurse development programme, which encompassed intensive residential workshops, online sessions and personalised coaching.
Hannah McIlveen, a Senior Nurse Therapist at NHS Lanarkshire, and Health Partnerships Manager at Scottish Ballet, was also named to receive the esteemed title after being selected earlier to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
After completing the programme successfully, Hannah was awarded the Queen’s Nurse title along with 20 other community nurses at a ceremony staged in November.
The programme requires those selected to choose an issue for development which will have a significant impact on those they care for, so that the learning during the nine months is applied in practice. There is an expectation that this work will have a focus on promoting equity and inclusion.
Community nurses and midwives provide a wide range of support to the people in their communities including complex care for older people, support for substance misuse and advocacy for people with learning disabilities. Those working in community mental health, district nursing, school nursing, care home nursing and health visiting are also part of this vital group of health professionals.
Dr Sarah Doyle, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “QNIS is delighted to award the Queen’s Nurse title to these fantastic two nurses.
“Community nurses and midwives occupy a unique position in Scotland’s health service, working as they do in the heart of communities, championing the cause of those who are not heard, helping those facing real adversity. They do extraordinary work, every day. The Queen’s Nurse Development Programme supports participants to build their confidence, inspiring them to find and lead creative responses to the challenges faced by their colleagues and the communities they serve.”
