Two More Queen’s Nurse Titles For Community Trust

Two further Queen’s Nurse titles have been awarded to staff at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) – taking the total to 15.

Samantha Preston, is a Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist and Sharon Rolfe, a Case Manager, have both been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse, by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

The title is not an award for past service, but indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.

Samantha said: “I wanted to become a Queen’s Nurse to show my commitment to community nursing, to improve patient care and maintain quality standards to benefit and make a difference to patients’ lives.”

She added: “My focus for the rest of this year is on the challenges of my new role. I will be supporting patients in need of palliative and end of life care and will also be taking an educational role involving training other members of staff. It is a really rewarding position – very interesting but challenging.”

Samantha will soon be celebrating 30 years of working in the NHS. Her career started in 1986 when she undertook her nurse training. Throughout the past three decades she has worked at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in general surgery, as a Community Nurse, as a Team Lead at Mablethorpe and as a Case Manager. She has recently taken up a new position as Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mablethorpe.

Sharon has been working in community nursing for almost six years, having qualified in 2009. She was promoted to Case Manager in January and is enjoying her new role which sees her leading a team in Mablethorpe, dealing with more complex cases and helping families with palliative care.

Sharon said: “I always received positive feedback for going above and beyond for patients through working to the best of my ability. I feel that being awarded the QN title is recognition for this.

“My 12-year-old son thought the title meant I would be treating the Queen but he’s still excited for me after realising what it does entail!”

She added: “My hope, through the title, is to explore additional support for patients suffering from leg ulcers. I want to be able to encourage social engagement as they are often isolated patients who only see visitors when we come to treat them.”

Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of the QNI, said: “Congratulations are due to both Sharon and Samantha for their success. Community nurses operate in an ever more challenging world and our role is to support them as effectively as we can. The QN title is a key part of this and we would encourage other community nurses to apply.”