University of Salford alumna awarded prestigious ‘Queen’s Nurse’ title

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Categories:School of Health and Society

University of Salford alumna Victoria Atkinson, who now works as Matron for Community and Specialist Services for Children and Young People at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen's Nurse by the Queens Nursing Institute (QNI).

The title is awarded to nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. On receiving the honour, Victoria said: "I am extremely proud to have my contribution within children's community nursing recognised. It's made me really consolidate the positive impact nursing has had personally and professionally alongside being in a very privileged position to have made a small difference to that of others.

Reflecting on her career journey, Victoria says she chose the University of Salford to study Paediatric Nursing as she felt there was: "an enriched learning offer with passionate lecturers from the open day to graduation."

After graduating, she went on to work within NHS children's hospitals at Pendlebury and Booth Hall (since closed as the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital replaced them), before taking on leadership roles as her career advanced.

"I gained a real passion for working with children and young people with complex medical needs. This, compounded with lived personal experience of having family members and others around me with complex medical needs, fuelled my passion to want to continue holistic and specialised nursing care within the community environment."

Victoria worked with several community NHS settings assessing children and young people alongside planning and providing care tailored to their identified needs. She then moved on from these specialist roles, into NHS leadership positions where she was able to influence visions of service delivery and strategic offers available proactively and positively for children and young people.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she made the leap into her current role as a Matron for Community and Specialist Services for Children and Young People.

She explains: "My role now primarily consists of providing operational oversight and strategic leadership to the vast range of services within my portfolio, so as imagined; it is incredibly varied and busy.

"It is so important that we always keep the users of these services at the heart of all we do; whether planning services, delivering care or working through gaps in service. We must ensure we work proactively and locally with users of our services, so that their voices remain heard and include others who may also be part of their holistic journey."

Reflecting on her journey, Victoria says: "The best thing about working in nursing is that we can and do make a positive difference. Despite the pressures that the NHS indeed faces, we continue to provide care with compassion.

"What I loved most about my time at Salford was the passion for nursing all around me. I was inspired by others who aspired to be a nurse and that feeling cannot be fully described. Being around others who have the same attributes that children's nurses naturally bring; really consolidated I was in the right place.

"To all new nurses just starting out on your career, always continue to remind yourself of the positive difference you can make."

You can find out more about studying nursing at the University of Salford here.

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