Community nurse’s clinical ‘switch’ leads her to prestigious title

A postgraduate health student at the University of Northampton (UON) who moved from walking the wards to providing healthcare in homes has received a prestigious title.

Rosanne Lever is studying for the University’s Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Prescribing Route) Apprenticeship, which only came to pass due to switching her own clinical practice. She says: “I have been a nurse for over 10 years working in several areas, starting my career in hospital-based wards such as intensive care, infectious disease, and respiratory medicine.

“But five years ago, I decided to move to a community setting, into an Urgent Community Response team. I absolutely love this role, seeing patients in their own homes is humbling. This experience allowed me to develop my knowledge, and the next, natural career step was to train to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. I love the course but am already wondering how long it will be until I take my next one after I have graduated!”

Although she has another four months until she finishes the course, Roseanne has added extra to her professional accomplishments as last month, she was named Queen’s Nurse by the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

The title Queen’s Nurse indicates a commitment to high patient care standards, learning, and leadership. Nurses can only apply if they meet certain criteria – including a minimum of five years’ service in a primary or community setting – and those who hold the title benefit from development workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity.

Roseanne joins around 2,500 other Queen’s Nurses across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 20 in Northamptonshire.

Of her new title, Rosanne adds: “I’m absolutely overjoyed to be named a Queen’s Nurse. I’ve known of the Queen’s Nursing Institute since moving into a community setting and working with amazing Queen’s Nurses. The more I looked into it, I realised this was a network I wanted to be a part of.

“The QNI supports leadership, innovation, and best practice to improve care for people, their families and the communities they serve. I hope to work closely with my fellow Queen’s Nurses to help develop and expand the role of ACP in my area of practice and share the developing knowledge and experience.”