The University of Birmingham has always had a reputation as a highly regarded establishment for those who wish to elevate their education in order to further their career. For me, that alongside the list of highly regarded professors and clinicians on the long list of tutors and guest lecturers was enough to make the decision an easy one!
What are your fondest memories of your time at Birmingham?
My course was a distance-learning course, so all of us on the course came from different places from around not just the UK but the world! One of my fondest memories of my time at Birmingham was each time we would meet with our tutor and my peer group, we would all bring something along. Someone bought teabags, someone bought the milk etc, it really felt like that little group comradery meant so much. The support and team work we would achieve in those meetings were priceless.
How did you approach the course online?
I studied for my Masters Degree via a Distance Learning course and therefore had to use the online service and resources many times throughout the course. The sheer amount of resources online meant that I had instant access to heaps of information through a variety of methods (written, links to websites, videos, recordings of lectures etc.). The online access to resources also meant that I was able to access these at any time, as a practicing nurse, this was vital to ensure I kept up with the course demands.
How did you stay in touch and connected with tutors and fellow students?
I studied my Masters Degree on a distance learning basis so only saw my tutor and fellow students in person a handful of times each year. In order to keep in touch and stay connected we used a WhatsApp group as well as email to keep in contact and share tips and support each other. We also used virtual meetings in-between seeing each other in person which really helped it feel like team working.
Describe your current role and organisation
I am currently the Head of Nursing for the Autism and Learning Disabilities division of a national charitable mental health organisation. Within this role, I am responsible for the nursing standard being maintained at the highest level within an inpatient service of over 140 beds as well as community provision for individuals who have autism and/or a learning disability who are also struggling with a mental health issue.
Tell us about your career journey from Birmingham student to where you are today
Prior to starting my course with Birmingham in Autism Studies: Adults, I had previously qualified as a nurse and worked my way through different roles and into management positions. My ideal career path was always to focus on the clinical aspect of nursing rather than the operational aspect. However, when applying and interviewing for more specialised positions, whilst having years of experience under my belt, I lacked the educational level specified and held by my competition. Throughout my course both my ability and confidence grew and even before completing the course I was able to successfully gain the role of an Autism Specialist Nurse within my current company. Since then I have been able to progress and now head the entire Autism and Learning Disabilities nursing team.
What has been the most extraordinary or memorable day on the job?
One of the most extraordinary days for me in my job has been supporting an individual with Autism and Learning Disabilities to leave inpatient services after several years to his new community placement. Seeing someone regain their independence and have their own environment that we had ensured was tailored to their individual needs was a heart-warming experience for me. It makes all the time and effort to get into my role worth it and I feel privileged that I get to be part of this.
Thinking back on your time as a student, what do you know now that you wish you knew then?
Looking back on my course, I wish I knew how much having my master degree would effect my career. It would’ve made the long nights writing a dissertation easier!
What is the best piece of advice you ever received (career or otherwise)?
No one is you. This has helped me remember my worth in times where that niggling imposter voice creeps in. No one else has my experiences and knowledge, this makes me and my professional voice unique and worthy.