Chief Nurse Fellowship launches to help create nursing stars of the future

12/05/2021

Leicester’s Hospitals has established a new professional development programme “Chief Nurse Fellowship” (CNF), to give junior nursing and midwifery staff a unique opportunity to develop their clinical and academic skills.

Each nurse Fellow will take on an improvement project, with the support of clinical and academic mentors. Amongst these projects will be a maternity focus on the care and outcomes for women who experience language barriers.

Midwife, Gemma Paine, who will lead on the project as part of her CNF year said: “I was so surprised and happy to find out that I had been chosen as a Fellow. Most of all, I’m excited because I want to help make life better for the women we care for and the midwifery team.

“Through the project, we will try to break down the language barriers that can prevent women from being able to explain issues they are having. We particularly want to explore how we can improve the interpretation and translation services we offer so that women get the support and advice they need throughout their pregnancy.”

Chief nurse, Carolyn Fox, said: “International Nurses Day is the day when we rightly celebrate the astonishing talent and dedication of our nurses, so it’s also a fitting moment to congratulate our very first cohort of Chief Nurse Fellows. 

“This new programme is a fundamental part of our journey to excellence and represents a strong commitment to the development of our most important asset – our nursing and midwifery family. 

“I know that the first five Fellows will grow and flourish over the coming year and am honoured to be a part of their journey.”