A COMMUNITY health worker from the Borders has been handpicked for a programme which will see her become a coveted Queen's Nurse.
Delia Howlett, who is a district nurse at NHS Borders, is one of 20 community nurses selected by The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
On completion of the programme they will be the first to receive the title in Scotland for almost 50 years.
The modern Queen’s Nurses, drawn from health boards and other independent organisations across Scotland, will promote health improvement and deliver quality care.
Evelyn Rodger, director of nursing midwifery & acute services at NHS Borders, told us: “The shift towards providing care closer to people’s homes offers exciting opportunities for the further development of community nursing,”
Once Delia and the other 19 nurses have completed the QNIS development programme they will support new models of care to promote health improvement and local delivery of services.
Clare Cable, chief executive and nurse director of QNIS. explained: “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.”
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 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.
Scotland’s chief nursing officer, Fiona McQueen, said: "With health policy rapidly shifting the balance of care towards care at home, it is an opportune time to highlight the important contribution of community nurses.
"The return of Queen’s Nurse title is a very welcome mark of professional excellence."
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