A pair of nurses who have worked together for more than a decade are to receive the Queen’s Nurse Award.

Georgina Ritchie and Kathryn Smith lecture in nursing at the University of Central Lancashire.

They are receiving the honour for their standard of care, learning and leadership in the profession.

Senior lecturer Georgina, 37, from Fulwood, is the course leader for community specialist practice programmes said: “It is an honour to receive this award. The title of Queen’s Nurse is one that commands much respect and I will take pride in acting as a role model to our workforce and as a caring advocate for our patients, unpaid carers workforce and families.

“Nursing to me is now also about educating, motivating and inspiring our precious nursing workforce. I enjoy the real buzz of education, when those light bulbs start lighting up and students ‘get it’. You know then you have played a small part in their nursing journey and perhaps shaped the way in which they practice as nurses.”

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The duo first met in 2005 when studying on the university’s postgraduate diploma in community nursing.

39-year-old Kathryn, from Goosnargh, who is a lecturer in general practice nursing, said: “One of my first placements as a student nurse was within general practice and I knew from that point that it was an area of nursing I would aspire to work in. The Queen’s Nursing values are reflected in my nursing role as I am wholly committed to providing patient centred care to a high standard. I see myself as an advocate for patients’, families and carers and students now that I have taken on an academic position.

“Our students are so supportive and we’re looking forward to sharing the good news. The passion and enthusiasm we both hold for community nursing is evident and we hope to inspire our students and positively promote this sector of nursing.”

Both the nursing lecturers receive their awards at a ceremony in October and join 921 other Queen’s Nurses across the UK.