Working together to promote and celebrate the diversity of nursing

I would like to wish a happy International Nurses Day to nurses all over the world and, in particular, to those in Scotland.

I took up the post of Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland on 1 January this year from my previous role as Executive Nurse Director in NHS Lothian. As for many nursing leaders, the past few years have been incredibly challenging. I truly believe that working in teams is the only way we have got through the pandemic and it will be the only way we will get through the challenges the next few years bring.

By challenges I mean our ability to remobilise, regroup and recover from the impact of the pandemic, learning the lessons and building on innovative practice established in response and with the courage and professionalism of our workforce in striving to deliver safe, person-centred care at all times.

It's both a privilege and humbling to find myself in the CNO role for Scotland. I have many ambitions for nursing and a real sense of the direction and decisions needed to ensure we have a good supply of registered nurses to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.