Community nurse heads up local Nurses’ Day celebrations

Community nurse Trudi Critchell, who works in Dorset HealthCare’s Purbeck district nursing team, has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.

Awarded by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), becoming a Queen’s Nurse indicates a continuing commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.

And the honour is among many local achievements being celebrated on Nurses’ Day (12 May), showcasing the difference nurses make every day to patients, families, carers and other healthcare colleagues.

Trudi’s journey as a nurse started in 2000 at Poole Hospital (now part of University Hospitals Dorset), where she gained experience in trauma and orthopaedics, critical care and acute medicine.

She joined Dorset HealthCare 14 years ago and has worked in various roles including nurse, ward sister and ward manager at the Trust’s community hospitals before becoming team lead for district nursing.

For the last five years she has been working as a community nurse in the Purbeck area, based at the Wellbridge Practice in Wool, and also as part of the Trust’s urgent care service.

Trudi collected her award at a ceremony in London. She said: “I feel extremely proud and honoured, and also privileged to be part of this professional network.

“The Queen’s Nurse title is a formal recognition of my commitment to promoting outstanding care in the community, and sharing knowledge and best practice.”

Dawn Dawson, Chief Nursing Officer at Dorset HealthCare, said:

“We are really proud of Trudi. The Queen’s Nurse Award reflects her dedication and commitment to providing the best level of care possible for our patients.

“At the same time, I’d like to thank all of our nurses for what they do. Whatever the setting, wherever the location, whomever the patient, the one thing all nursing staff have in common is their unwavering commitment to make a difference to people's lives. Not just their patients, but their patients’ families and loved ones too.”

Dorset HealthCare has a wide variety of nursing roles available, many with training opportunities for anyone starting their career or looking to change direction. Join #TeamDorsetHealthCare by visiting the ‘work for us’ website page and for any questions around recruitment events or training opportunities, contact dhc.careers@nhs.net.