Every nurse is a leader: celebrating the first Queen’s Nurse Leadership 1 cohorts

Representing a remarkable range of community nursing and midwifery roles, participants travelled from across Scotland — including some of the country's most remote communities — to take part in this new leadership development opportunity. Among them were newly qualified practitioners just beginning their careers alongside nurses and midwives with decades of experience. 

Delivered over three-days, face-to-face, QNL1 provides an experiential learning environment where participants are encouraged to reflect, connect and develop their leadership potential. The first cohort focused on nurses working predominantly with older people, made possible through generous funding from The Vivensa Foundation. Further courses supporting nurses working with older people are planned in the coming months. 

The diversity of backgrounds, specialties and experience created a rich learning experience for everyone involved. 

QNIS Professional Nurse Lead, Emma Legge, said: "The mix of specialties and career stages brought a richness and variety of experience and perspectives; ideas were shared and everyone supported each other. Every nurse is a leader; we all have something to offer and something to learn. When you get nurses together in a room – even as strangers – there's an energy, relatability, and positivity that becomes infectious." 

"Despite the complex challenges in healthcare that we are all aware of, these nurses and midwives were laser focused on their learning and development – with one aim – to keep serving Scotland's communities with professionalism, kindness, and humility." 

Throughout the programme, participants embraced activities with enthusiasm and generosity, taking time to reflect on what leadership means in their own practice. The learning explored topics including self-awareness, coaching, listening, managing change, and personal wellbeing. 

Among the most valuable lessons participants highlighted were:

• "Coaching taught me about allowing people to identify their own skills..."

• "The power of silence and space to let people talk and share."

• "Being ok with taking time and looking after my own needs. I don't have to know all the answers, but I can influence and encourage others to find them with me." 

Participants also reflected on how the course would influence their future practice: 

• "‘I feel fire in my belly to take back what I have learned..."

• "I think it will encourage me to reflect more, listen more and not carry the weight of everything at work on my shoulders." 

The first two cohorts included nurses and midwives from a wide range of specialties, including district nursing, care home nursing, community mental health, palliative care, health visiting, school nursing, learning disability nursing, public health, tissue viability, advanced nurse practitioner roles, heart failure services, child protection and the Scottish Ambulance Service. 

While QNL1 is a valuable standalone learning opportunity, it also marks the first step on the journey towards becoming a Queen's Nurse. If you are interested in applying to join a QNL1 course, further opportunities will be advertised soon. For those who have completed QNL1, who want to deepen their leadership development, opportunities to undertake a QNL2 programme will also be advertised soon.

Click here to learn more about Queen’s Nurse Leadership opportunities