June 7, 2022

Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson Awarded Honorary Fellowship to the Royal College of Nursing

Professor Davidson’s distinguished career recognised by global peak body

The Royal College of Nursing is the world's largest nursing union and professional body, representing close to half a million nurses, midwives, nursing support workers and students internationally.

Each year the Royal College of Nursing elects a small number of fellowships that recognise practitioners, researchers, educationalists and leaders who share its commitment to advancing the art and science of nursing and the improvement of health care.

A peer nominated award, the Honorary Fellowship acknowledges Professor Davidson’s experience, accomplishments, and dedication to the nursing profession.

Professor Davidson said she was honoured to have been selected for the fellowship which is especially meaningful as it marks recognition from within the global community of nurses.

“I am very lucky to have had a far-reaching and varied career, which is a testament to the career versatility that nursing can offer, but above all, I am a nurse. It is in the hospital that my training began and, many years later, that desire to help others and that passion for medicine has never left,” Professor Davidson said.

“Nursing to me is about connecting with people and doing meaningful work. It is the combination of art and science that I love. You need to have a good grasp for the science, but it also has an incredibly important human aspect.”

“I think a nursing degree is one of the best degrees you can get to prepare you for life.”

“For an Australian nurse from Wollongong Hospital to become the Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and now the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong goes to show anyone can do anything, if you work hard and surround yourself with people who support and enable you.”