Fourth Queen's Nurse for Skegness Nursing Team

Skegness's Community Nursing Team is celebrating after securing a fourth prestigious Queen's Nurse title.

Ann Burns, a staff nurse for Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), has been successful in her application for the title from the community nursing charity The Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI).

The title is not an award for past service, but indicates a continued commitment to the delivery of high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. Nurses who hold the title benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.

The accolade comes just weeks after two of Ann's colleagues, Kayte Willis and Katrina Merifield, were also awarded the title. Their team leader, Tracy Means, has also been a Queen's Nurse since 2012.

Ann, who has been a nurse for 11 years, said: "I always wanted to be a nurse. I remember when I was young there were old peoples' bungalows at the end of my street and I used to fill the coal bucket for them every night. I worked in a nursing home from when I was 20 and qualified as a nurse in 2003. Becoming a community nurse was my dream job. My daughter has since followed in my footsteps and qualified last year.

"Becoming a Queen's Nurse is about my passion for community nursing. I love mentoring the students in Skegness and I absolutely love my job."

Sue Cousland, Chief Nurse and Director of Operations at LCHS, said: "It gives me great pleasure to be able to congratulate Ann on her achievement. We are very fortunate to now have 12 Queen's Nurses working at LCHS across Lincolnshire, but to have four in one team is really very special. We are privileged as an organisation to have so much passion and expertise in our community nursing teams, with a particular focus in Skegness."