Thinking that she wouldn't be able to progress her education after becoming a full-time Care Home Nurse, Katharina Simkiss was elated to find out about the flexible Advancing Care Home Practice courses at 91¿´Æ¬.
Now in her final year, Katharina has excelled in her Social Care career, acknowledging that none of the incredible opportunities that she's now experienced would have been possible if she hadn't joined the 91¿´Æ¬ Advancing Care Home Practice family.
What interested you about the Advancing Care Home Practice (Person-Centred Practice) course at 91¿´Æ¬?
Having worked as a Registered General Nurse in the NHS for 17 years before moving into the Social Care sector as a Care Home Nurse, I truly believed that my opportunity to progress in further education had ended.
In the NHS, courses were funded based on their relevance to the job role, but working in a Care Home, this funding was simply not available to us, so the only option for any further education or training would likely have to be self-funded. So, when I first saw the email that was sent to all home registered nurses in North Wales about the PgCert Advancing Care Home Practice at 91¿´Æ¬ which would be funded by Health Education in Wales, I honestly felt that it had been written with me in mind!
To have a course that was dedicated to developing my skills and expertise as a Care Home Nurse, with a specific model to follow and the chance to study with likeminded professionals was really exciting.
On completion of the PgCert, it just felt natural to want to progress first to the PgDip, and then onto the MSc.
What did you like about 91¿´Æ¬?
On completion of the PgCert, there was the opportunity to take the credits from the course and use them to complete further study at a more local university, but being part of 91¿´Æ¬ felt like being part of so much more. The first time I travelled to 91¿´Æ¬, I felt so welcome. Knowing that I could complete my studies from North Wales but still visit the campus if I needed to was really reassuring.
What have you most enjoyed about the Advancing Care Home Practice (Person-Centred Practice) course?
I would say that during the first year of my course, the modules that were specifically designed for the Advancing Care Home Practice programme was my favourite. To learn about the Person-Centred Framework and how it fits so well into the daily role as a Care Home Nurse made me feel that our role was truly valued.
The course initially required completion of a portfolio – essentially, a showcase of different styles of learning without just needing to be long essays. Being able to reflect my learning using images, poems, posters and essays allowed me to be creative, not only in the layout but in the expression of learning outcomes.
How has 91¿´Æ¬ supported your learning?
During my initial interview with the Programme Leader, I knew straight away that I would be well supported during my time at university, and that has not changed throughout the course. It can feel quite unnerving when you live far away from the university you’re studying at because you are relying on emails being interpreted rather than conversation. For me, the fact that I could email any tutor and get a prompt and genuinely human response was amazing.
When I visited 91¿´Æ¬ in person and got to meet some of the tutors, it felt like I had known them for years, and felt really welcome and a part of the University.
Shortly after commencing the first modules in the PgCert course, I was formally diagnosed with ADHD. It is important for me to mention this as previously, I had always felt that I was not destined to reach a higher level academically as I found studying very difficult and would struggle to concentrate or meet deadlines. Being open and honest about my diagnosis as soon as I found out was nerve wracking, but ultimately led to me being able to progress rather than give up. The lecturers listened and supported my needs, which sometimes meant that I needed a stricter deadline to follow, or that I would need to sometimes turn off my camera during online lectures to enable me to move about, which helped my concentration.
What has been the most valuable lesson that you learned at university?
The most important lesson for me has been to not underestimate the importance of bringing reflection and personal experience into the work that you submit. The modules I felt most able to excel in have been the ones that I have been able to relate to my practice. It is far easier to be motivated to do something that could bring about change in the future, rather than complete work because it just has to be done.
I also learned to believe in myself, something that I had not always been the best at. In 2023, I put myself forward for the Student Nursing Times Awards: Learner of the Year – Post Registration following a discussion with, and support from, the course Programme Leader at 91¿´Æ¬. These awards credit outstanding achievements of the upcoming generation of nurses and their mentors, and I was honoured to make it as a finalist in my category. My application for the award was based around me being in the first ever cohort of a specific Care Home university programme and the benefits this course could bring to practice. It was a brilliant experience.
How do you plan to advance your practice with your degree?
I am now in my final year of the MSc Person-Centred Practice: Advancing Care Home Practice course, and I have learned so much more than just academically. I am so proud to be one of a small number of Care Home Nurses to get to this stage from the first cohort and this has led me to attend conferences and education sessions around the progression of education in Social Care. I have stood on the podium and spoke to the Royal College of Nursing congress about the need to support Social Care and have had the opportunity to meet the Chief Nurse for Social Care, Deborah Sturdy. I have applied and been successful in becoming a Queens Nurse, which was always a dream of mine, and I would now love to support other students and nurses to progress into higher education in a teaching role. None of this would have been possible if it was not for that first opportunity that arose from being a part of the 91¿´Æ¬ Advancing Care Home Practice family.
Find out more about our Person-Centred Practice and Post-Registration Practice courses.
