The RCN elects a small number of new Honorary Fellows each year to acknowledge their commitment to advancing and promoting the nursing profession.
Following his emotive speech to delegates at our flagship nursing conference, RCN Council has made the exceptional decision to award an Honorary Fellowship to Michael.
In the session he led on Tuesday (7 June) at Congress he shared extracts from his book which charts his journey back from the brink of death.
After being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in March 2020, Michael spent months on the wards: six weeks in an induced coma, and many more weeks of rehab and recovery as nursing staff helped save his life, then got him back on his feet.
Throughout Michael's stay in intensive care, a notebook lay at the end of his bed, where the nurses who cared for him wrote letters of hope and support.
He’s published these notes in his book, which has helped showcase the highly skilled, safety critical and compassionate care of nursing staff.
RCN President Dr Denise Chaffer said: "On behalf of our members, RCN Council decided unanimously this morning to award Michael Rosen with an Honorary Fellowship.
"Michael reminded us all of his commitment, passion and unwavering support for nursing staff.
"An Honorary Fellowship is awarded to people who are not nurses but have a significant impact on nursing and health care. Michael is a true patient voice and we felt that the work he's been doing since experiencing COVID-19 himself, means he certainly meets those criteria.”
On receiving the award Michael said: "I'm delighted and honoured, it really is a very special moment. Thank you.”
