Chapter 15

‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ Mahatma Gandhi

In January 2012, I was awarded the Queen’s Nurse Title, a prestigious nursing award conferred by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), which recognises excellence in clinical practice. The QNI is the oldest professional nursing organisation in the UK and believed to be the oldest nursing charity in the world. It is based in London and operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate charity, The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, operates in Edinburgh. The charity traces its origins to 1887 following a grant of £70,000 provided by Queen Victoria from the Women’s Jubilee Fund; its core purpose, to train district nurses, who until 1968, on successful completion of their training, were known as Queen’s Nurses. The title of Queen’s Nurse was reintroduced in a different format in 2007 and is now awarded to those nurses who have demonstrated high levels of commitment to the nursing profession.

This was soon followed by an invitation to join Sigma Theta Tau International, (Sigma), which recognises excellence in nurse education. Sigma is a highly prestigious, highly respected Honor nursing society established in 1922 by six student nurses at Indiana university, USA. The aim of which was to expand the status of nursing as a highly regarded, highly educated and highly competent profession. Sigma bestows membership to those nurse scholars and leaders who have demonstrated excellence in academic practice. Sigma currently has 600 Chapters across the globe and potential candidates are nominated by these Chapters. I have been a member of the Phi Mu (All England) Chapter since 2015 and until recently was actively involved in driving forward the aspirations of the Chapter. Considered a trailblazer we were the first Chapter to introduce a regular blog feature on our website, and as Webmaster, I supported members to be actively involved in writing for publication.

Bright ideas need nurturing and Celebrating Nursing Practice was an RCN scheme designed to celebrate the centenary year of the Union in 2016. Celebrating Nursing  sought to turn innovation into practice and showcase the profession’s creativity and inventiveness,  ensuring the best ideas were acted upon. I submitted my application and was amazed when I was offered a place on the scheme and the support to make my innovation a reality. My innovation being to develop a 6-week programme designed to encourage nurses to write for publication. Eventually it became student nurses. As I was working in academia at the time I had a captive audience of students. It really was an amazing journey.

The innovations were published in the RCN Repository not long after. You can access my project by clicking on the link here.

As I begin to consider how I might develop previous work to enhance future innovations, this is one way in which I could develop my writing, perhaps through the development of a writing retreat. Writing retreats encourage would be authors, and is used frequently in academic circles, but they don’t have to be just for academics. Anyone who is struggling to develop their writing skills or who want to push forward with that ubiquitous dream to write a book can benefit from attending a retreat. Online or in a secluded place, usually with inspirational views, and lots of time for walking in woodland, they are a break from the norm of everyday life.

In 2021, I was awarded Fellowship of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which affords the post nominal letters FFNMRCSI, and recognises the commitment of those nurses and midwives who have positively influenced health and society in some way. Founded by Royal Charter in 1784, the College originally focused on setting and supporting the professional standards for surgical training and practice. This commitment to providing high quality education has now extended to nursing.

Each year, ‘The College’ awards a number of Fellowships to candidates in recognition of outstanding work, superior achievement and exceptional leadership in their chosen profession. In 2021, following an extensive portfolio submission and a viva voce, (an oral examination) I received mine.

Sadly, Ireland was having to take extra measures at the time due to the Covid 19 pandemic and we couldn’t have our graduation ceremony at the university, instead it was held online. With Mike by my side, it was a huge privilege to have my name formally read out and to be recognised as a Fellow.

When I received this award, I contacted the QNI and asked them to promote this in the newsletter and to let everyone know that if anyone was interested in submitting a portfolio to get in touch. Someone did. And in July 2022, she received her Fellowship. A Queen’s nurse like me, she is a credit to the nursing profession and I am so proud I helped her on her journey to Fellowship. Although probably not much.

I was never one for accolades, I thought being a nurse was a privilege and whatever my achievements, I was simply being a good nurse. But as my career progressed, I realised there were so many nurses who simply did what they had to do to maintain their nurse registration, and nothing else, but I did so much more. Working hours until the job was done, not being afraid to challenge hierarchy, even those at the very top, and I most definitely refused to accept ‘I was only a nurse’. I certainly did not know my place.

I completed qualifications for the usefulness of my practice and to help improve patient care and began to realise I wasn’t an everyday nurse. Nursing over time became my passion and helping to improve the health and wellbeing of others, became my drive. This being reiterated throughout the many voluntary roles I undertook and the dedication I displayed and continue to display to the nursing profession.

Before I leave this Chapter I want to share with you The Nightingale Pledge.

Named in honour of Florence Nightingale, the Nightingale Pledge, which has its origins within the USA is a declaration of the ethics and principles of the nursing profession. A modified version of the Hippocratic Oath, the Nightingale Pledge, calls upon all nurses to raise the standards and prestige of nursing. Issued primarily in the USA I would like to see this pledge brought up to date and used during all graduation ceremonies in honour, not only of those nurses who have come before us, and those yet to come, but also those who continue to work tirelessly across the globe every single day to make the lives of patients and their families, a little easier.

There is no finer profession than nursing. We should be shouting it from the rooftops.