New programme manager appointed

The Queen’s Nursing Institute has appointed Sharon Aldridge-Bent QN as a programme manager for its expanding professional work, which supports the strategic priorities of the QNI.

Sharon will be responsible for managing a new leadership development programme for Queen’s Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Future Community Leaders programme will be available to experienced Queen’s Nurses who have the potential to secure a senior board level position in the next 3-5 years.

The inspirational leadership programme will support the development of participants in several key areas:

• Personal and professional development to become a senior leader
• Organisational development and the support of people working to deliver excellent care for patients, families, carers and communities
• Systems leadership to promote high quality care.

Sharon has a clinical background in District Nursing and specialist nursing, including Macmillan nursing. For the last twelve years she has been as a senior lecturer in Buckinghamshire New University teaching Community Health Care Nursing and the Specialist Practitioner Qualification for District Nurses, along with developing a range of other community educational programmes. She has considerable experience in innovative learning approaches to support professionals to realise their full potential.

QNI chief executive Dr Crystal Oldman commented, ‘I am delighted to welcome Sharon to the QNI. We are committed to a future where nurse leaders have the knowledge, skills, confidence and experience to inspire, lead and manage services and systems. The QNI, under Sharon’s direction, will develop the leadership potential of selected cohorts of Queen’s Nurses over the next three years and we anticipate that many of these QNs will become future leaders. Leadership was the focus of my doctoral research and I am passionate about ensuring we are succession planning for a future generation of leaders in new and integrated service models.’

Sharon (RGN, DN BSc (Hons) MA Ed. QN) became a QN in 2014 and was one of the authors of the QNI Transition to Community Nursing online resource. She has also contributed to several publications on community nursing.