Janine McKnight-Cowan

Year of Graduation: 1996 and 2001

  • Course Dip HE Critical Care Nursing and BSc Hons SCPHN (Health Visiting)
  • School School of Nursing
  • Nationality British
  • Career industry Healthcare/nursing midwifery
  • Current job title Health visitor
  • Current Company Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation

Only having done your best, do you have the right to give up trying. And care like you'd want to be cared for.

One memory that I vividly have is failing my first two postgrad modules, due to poor syntax and grammar. This did not stop me from changing my course to another BSc Hons. I remember my course tutor's name was Enid, though she must be retired now. My work placements were in Stockland Green Birmingham. I still am very close to one of my course colleagues.
The course gave me the freedom to pursue a public health career. Also: *It gave me the impetus to make change and challenge rhetoric. *It gave me credibility, independence and self-worth. *It has allowed me to go on to be an international speaker and innovator of health and safety quality tools. *I have been awarded and received many high profile awards, including: Nursing Times Nurse of the Year 2006 Patient's Choice Award 2009 Queen's Nurse Award 2010 International speaker in Atlanta USA, Mexico, Venezuela, and Columbia 2011-12 RCN Celebrating Nurse Practice awards 2017-18 RCN Nurse of the year for Community & General Practice 2019 British Empire Medal for services to Nursing in 2019 I have served under 7 Prime ministers and had a 42 year career in NHS. I am currently completing a book , have several articles published and several video links on YouTube. This all started after I graduated at Wolverhampton.
The key responsibilities I have are: *To assess health needs and deliver health education programmes *Undertake developmental reviews and screening *Assess plan and implement care plans for mental, physical and long term health needs *Act as a referrer to liaison services *My client group is 0-19 including parents, carers *I work with multi agencies, typically social care, GP's, Midwives etc *I am project managing in addition to this role a new standard for care *Writing for publication and an International speaker
Career highlights: *2010 Queen's Nurse Award *2019 British Empire Medal
My advice will be and always is, go for it! There was for me a great support team that kept me on target and I succeeded with my goal. Try it - it can change your life.