Community Matron, Mandy Kazmierski has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

The title indicates a commitment to 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.

Mandy was presented with her award in London recently. She said: “I am humbled and proud to be part of the QNI and to receive my Queen's Nurse title.  I look forward to connecting to their amazing network, to raise the profile of community nursing and improve practice within my area of work.  I am so very proud to be a nurse and after 40 years I have never stopped learning from the best teachers, those patients and their families who  I have had the privilege to work with and care for”.

Head Nurse, Community Healthcare Division, Liz Morley, added her congratulations on behalf of the division. “The division are extremely proud of Mandy. Being recognised as a Queen’s Nurse is so well deserved. Mandy’s commitment to improving patient care across our Community particularly her work with those at the end of life and their families is admirable”.

Chief Executive of the QNI, Dr Crystal Oldman, CBE, said “on behalf of the QNI I would like to congratulate Mandy and welcome her as a Queen’s Nurse.  Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high quality health care across the country.  The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is rigorous and requires clear commitment to improving care for patients, their families and carers.  We look forward to working with Mandy and all other new Queen’s Nurses who have received the title this year”.

As part of the rigorous application process to become a Queen’s Nurse, applicants are required to undertake voluntary work.  Mandy qualified as an End of Life Doula in January 2019 and has been volunteering a day a week at CRH.  Mandy has supported, along with their relatives, over 60 patients approaching the end of their lives.