Awards 2007
Conferment of RCN Award of Merit 2007
John Pauls (1962-2006)
John Pauls, who sadly passed away last year, made a significant and extensive contribution to the RCN in the North West Region. A passionate advocate of regional issues, over the years John tirelessly undertook a wide variety of roles, including branch chair, treasurer, steward and fundraiser. His career as a nurse led to him working at locations across the regions, especially in more recent years when he became a specialist trainer, but he always retained a strong loyalty to his branch and the members he represented.
Sadly, John’s considerable contribution to nursing, numerous hospitals and health care organisations, and to the life of the RCN in the region, was cut short by his untimely death in 2006.
- For his outstanding contribution to the RCN, his dedication and work at a regional level, including his countless support and mentoring of new members, RCN Council awards the late John Pauls the Award of Merit.
Conferment of RCN Fellowship 2007
Dr Faith Gibson PhD, MSc, Cert Ed, RSCN, ENB 237, RGN, RNT
Dr Faith Gibson is the senior lecturer in Children’s Cancer Nursing Research at UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
As a nursing leader, Faith has been responsible for many significant advances in the evolving specialty of children’s cancer nursing practice, both in the UK and internationally. As a practitioner, educator and leading researcher in this field, her work has shaped many developments in paediatric oncology nursing practice. And as chair of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Nurses Group, she has become a powerful advocate for paediatric oncology nursing, ensuring the nursing and care needs of children and young people with cancer appear on the policy and development agendas of many nations.
- For her outstanding contribution to the advancement of the nursing of children and young people in the specialty of paediatric oncology and for her exceptional contribution to nursing research and leadership across international boundaries, RCN Council confers Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing on Faith Gibson.
Conferment of RCN Honorary Fellowship 2007
Dr Hattie Bessent Ed.D, RN, FAAN
Dr Hattie Bessent is director of the Leadership, Enhancement and Development (LEAD) Project at the American Nurses Foundation.
Hattie’s contributions to nursing in the domains of practice development, academic achievement and the advancement of nursing as a profession for minority ethnic nurses in the United States are extensive. As a specialist in the sphere of mental health practice development, Hattie has travelled and lectured extensively in the States, and has worked hard to improve both access to care and the quality of that care for all people. She is internationally recognised for her work in helping to develop people from minority ethnic backgrounds for work in nursing and health care. Hattie’s recent efforts have been focused on developing minority ethnic nurses for leadership and senior management roles.
Over the years Hattie has consulted with nurses around the world on access issues, and has served as a role model, teacher, mentor and preceptor to hundreds of individuals.
- For her exceptional contribution in many areas of nursing, most notably in the domains of practice development, academic achievement and the advancement of nursing as a profession, especially for minority ethnic nurses in the USA, and for her life long pursuit to improve access to care for all people, RCN Council confers Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing on Hattie Bessent.