Professor Kathleen McCourtProfessor Kathleen McCourt

An outstanding academic and professional nurse, Professor Kath McCourt has been instrumental in making radical shifts in curriculum development to drive cultural, health and social care reform in the UK. Her influence has been felt in the development of defined programmes of service modernisation and reform in the NHS, through to the inclusion of education as an integral part of clinical practice development.

She has pioneered the creation of knowledge transfer partnerships, incorporated work-based learning into post qualifying frameworks, and led curriculum development in a variety of subjects allied to health and social care. Her contributions have enabled sustainable organisational changes to support the provision of health and social care, while helping to showcase success or good practice.

In an international context Kath is one of the most respected academics in the field of nurse education, management and leadership. An adviser to the ICN, and several overseas governments, her most recent work has taken her to Egypt and South Africa.

“Throughout my career I have worked alongside many nurses globally, who deliver care in the most complex and challenging situations. Receiving this personal recognition from my peers within the RCN, I feel a great debt to these highly motivated and focused nurses. It is overwhelming and humbling, and will spur me on to maintain the key role of nurses within the health agenda.”