A Coalville woman has joined the elite of community nursing – despite initially stumbling into nursing as a career.

Sybil Musarurwa has been made a Queen’s Nurse by the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing. It recognises leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community nursing over several years.

But it was hard to predict where her career would take her during her nursing studies.

“Back in the day, community nursing didn’t have a good reputation for what it had to offer. My community placement was one of my worst placements, I was dragging myself along,” she said.

She changed her mind some years later when she joined Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, initially as a temporary (bank) worker. She was encouraged to take on a community role, treating patients in their own homes, and never looked back.

“I could see how much it had evolved, and it made sense to have more care at home. It’s usually what the patient wants.”

Sybil came to the UK from Zimbabwe when she was 18, only intending to stay for six months. “Twenty five years later, I’m still here,” she said.

She wasn’t considering any form of healthcare as a career initially.

“I went to law school, but it wasn’t for me, I just didn’t enjoy it. My sister said I should try nursing. That’s how I stumbled into nursing.

“It has given me a lot of opportunities. I am grateful for that.”

Sybil went on to become Coalville’s first black district nurse, before taking on more senior roles based in Braunstone and then in Hinckley. Her career took a new twist about 18 months ago, when she took up the position of matron for the three inpatient wards at Loughborough Hospital.

She isn’t sure whether she will remain with hospitals, or return to the community: “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I will continue to serve the community. I will stay in nursing and see where it takes me.”

Sybil has co-chaired LPT’s race ethnicity and cultural heritage staff network, and says she encourages black colleagues to put themselves forward for opportunities. “If you put the hard work in, someone somewhere will recognise that.”