Calling all Nurses: 2025 Florence Nightingale Fellowship now open for applications
Clinical Nurse Specialist for Head and Neck, Natasha Lucas is the latest Trust colleague to have completed the Florence Nightingale Fellowship programme last year, and is now a Florence Nightingale Alumni > Nurse.
The Florence Nightingale Fellowship is a leadership development programme awarded to nurses and midwives, designed to enhance their influence and impact on health and care outcomes through advance training, mentorship and professional support.
2025 Florence Nightingale Fellowship programme now taking applications
Entering its third consecutive year, UHDB proudly announces the opening of applications for colleagues to join the Fellows Programme - an eight-month initiative comprising several key elements.
Applications for the Florence Nightingale Fellowship programme 2025-26 are now open to Nurses and Midwives in the UK working at NHS Agenda for Change (or equivalent) Band 5 and above and must have been registered within the past five years. Applicants must be nominated by their Chief Nurse and have a Chief Nurse who is an FNF Academy Member.
Ideal candidates are those aiming to advance into senior leadership roles or lead systemic change in healthcare. The scholarship provides the opportunity for individual coaching, mentorship, and access to a network of fellow scholars, with participants also attending a two-day residential leadership development programme.
The scholarship is an opportunity for both personal and professional growth and nurtures confidence, equips participants with tools to lead change and strengthens their ability to influence improvements in patient care and health outcomes.
Applications are now open with the closing date of Monday 30 June at 12noon and colleagues can apply by completing this UHDB form > (opens in new window) .
Natasha's journey to becoming a Florence Nightingale Alumni
Before becoming a nurse, Natasha was a tax advisor. She realised she had a passion to work with and care for people and like many others, found her calling as a nurse. She shares her journey into healthcare and becoming a fellow:
How I found my calling in the NHS as a nurse
I qualified in 2014 but my journey into nursing wasn't straightforward. I previously worked as a tax advisor and was told I was unable to study nursing due to my lack of care experience. I realised that I wanted to work with people, and this was where my passion was, so I applied once again after being part of the volunteering team for St John's ambulance and gaining invaluable first-hand care experience, and this time I was successful.
I have been a Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist within Service Development for a year now, and before that a I was a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the same department. Through nursing I contribute to providing exceptional care by looking at everyone as an individual and tailoring care to their needs, whether that be offering appointments to take into account other care events or giving patients more time when they need to chat about their other health needs.
My biggest accomplishment in my nursing career
One of my most treasured achievements of my career so far was devising a course specifically for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) nurses to refresh knowledge, update skills and create networking opportunities.
When the Government announced a £1,000 budget for all nurses to contribute to revalidation requirements, my initial thoughts were that this was a brilliant opportunity to expand my current knowledge, however upon lots of searching, the availability of courses specific to ENT nurses is almost non-existent. There were lots of micro-suction courses and lots of courses aimed at resident doctors/medical staff however nothing for the keen ENT nurse. I tend not to let things like this stop me in my plans so decided to devise and run my own course! I went on to advertise the course across the UK and bookings soon started to come in.
The course ran successfully with 50 delegates with key speakers from the across the Trust discussing topics such as ear conditions and treatment options, vestibular disorders, thyroid function and thyroid cancers, tracheostomy care and rhinitis and epistaxis.
I’d like to think this achievement helped me stand out from the crowd during my interview and I was selected to become one of the Trust’s FNF Fellows.
The reason I got involved in the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF)
I'm a nurse who never likes to stay still and is always looking for the next challenge, I think my Matron recognised the need to keep motivating me and suggested I investigate the FNF Fellowship programme. After reading about the exciting opportunities it could offer, I promptly filled in an application form in order to be entered into our trust’s selection process. I am a firm believer in the ‘if you don’t apply, you definitely won’t get selected’ thought process so I threw my hat into the ring!
Next came the interview, a very nerve-racking process but I was determined to use my limited time to highlight my achievements.
What being part of the fellowship involved
I attended both the Members Symposium and the Policy Think Tank days at Reading Town Hall - an event was attended by many FNF colleagues, Chief Nurses and a variety of professional nurses from all different fields and areas. Nervous was an understatement! I have always appreciated the benefits of networking across professions however I had not undertaken anything like this within my nursing professional career for a long time.
Then began the fellowship virtual sessions. There have been a variety of topics covered such as leadership signature, finding your professional voice and authority, power and influence. During these sessions, there are opportunities to discuss some of these topics in more detail with other FNF Fellows via ‘breakout rooms’ (never knew these existed prior to this!). This was invaluable when relating these new leadership concepts into real world situations.
What I learnt on the programme and how it has helped my development
Within the fellowship, I have been involved in many community of practice sessions with FNF members from across my trust. This alone has been an amazing opportunity to network with different colleagues who, without the FNF, I may never have met. During these sessions, we had the opportunity to work together to plan our Trust’s International Nurse’s Day celebrations.
Reverse mentoring is a key part of the FNF Fellowship. Reverse mentoring aims to foster a two-way exchange of information, enhance cross-generational understanding, and promote a collaborative learning environment within healthcare settings.
What I would say to anyone thinking of applying for this years Florence Nightingale Fellowship cohort
If you're thinking of applying for the Florence Nightingale Fellowship, do it - without hesitation. This fellowship gave me the opportunity to lead with purpose, network with like minded people and try new things. It's not just about career progression, it's about finding your voice, shaping the future of nursing and driving real change for patients and colleagues alike. If you're passionate about making a difference, this is your moment.
Applications are now open with the closing date of Monday 30 June at 12noon and colleagues can apply by completing this UHDB form > (opens in new window) and any nurse or midwife working at NHS Agenda for Change (or equivalent) band 5 and above are eligible to apply.
UHDB will submit the successful candidate before the 21 July, as per information on the Florence Nightingale Foundation website.
Shortlisting will take place Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 July, with interview invitations sent to successful applicants Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July.