Gemma Ford – MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, 2017

Gemma’s career journey below provides a great example of where post graduate studies at the University of Lincoln can take you in your career.

Gemma is a qualified advanced practitioner working in the field of mental health and has recently completed her consultant level practice training pathway. Prior to undertaking the Msc in Advanced Clinical Practice, Gemma undertook several senior clinical nursing roles within the field of mental health. As she progressed to more senior roles, she felt increasingly concerned about moving away from clinical practice/face-to-face patient care. Working clinically with patients is something Gemma feels passionate about and as a consequence decided to embark on further academic training to enable her to focus on remaining clinical whilst progressing her career.

Gemma would wholeheartedly agree that the Msc in Advanced Clinical Practice has enabled her to achieve her desired career outcomes and more. It gave her the knowledge, skills, and expertise to successfully secure influential senior strategic roles within her area of expertise.

After completing her studies, Gemma had a period of consolidation as an Advanced Practitioner using her knowledge, skills and expertise to have an impact within the field of advanced practice in mental health both regionally and nationally. Gemma successfully secured a role as the Regional Supervision & Assessment Lead for Advanced Practice in Mental Health for Health Education England (HEE). In the past 12 months she has secured a role as the Regional Training Programme Director for Mental Health (HEE) and recently completed further academic studies to continue her journey from advanced level practice to consultant level practice, enabling her to be the approved/ responsible consultant on a psychiatric inpatient ward. Securing a consultant level role has enabled her to hold a very senior clinical position whilst continuing her clinical career journey.

Gemma believes she would never have achieved so much and experienced such job satisfaction if she had not undertaken the programme. Gemma says “the course was my platform, it gave me the wings to fly, enabling me to continue my passion in remaining clinical, whilst opening new and exciting opportunities”

Reflecting on the course, Gemma considers that the quality of teaching was of the highest standard and the support from staff was excellent, the opportunity to learn with peers from different professions was so important to her overall development. She feels her clinical skills have improved, as has her confidence, job satisfaction and personal well-being. Ultimately, she believes this has led to improved service delivery and ‘improved patient care’.

With all of this in mind she would thoroughly recommend the Msc in Advanced Clinical Practice.