Empowering the workforce in the community

The QNI annual online conference was held last week, with over 450 delegates attending. An impressive range of high-profile presenters contributed their insights and expertise to the subjects covered, and one that arose several times throughout the event was the importance of child health. Many speakers talked about the work to be done on the prevention of ill health and the promotion of good physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing.

On day one, we focused on evidence-based practice and Professor John Unsworth OBE, Queen's Nurse and Chair of the QNI, spoke about the international research he is undertaking, which will potentially validate the advanced practice work of health visitors in the UK.

A presentation by Professor Gina Higginbottom MBE, QNI Fellow, and Dr Ben Bowers, Queen's Nurse, provided a superb description of the varied ways in which nurses can become involved in research, with Professor Higginbottom sharing her journey into a research career as a health visitor.