Colin Johnson qualified as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in 1991. Having developed an interest in psychiatric nursing, Colin went on to study for the Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) qualification. Colin was nearing completion of his Registered Psychiatric Nurse Training when the opportunity arose for him to expand his knowledge with a Certificate of Higher Education in Health Education at the University of Wolverhampton. A year later, and having successfully juggled his studies with his job and family commitments, he decided to take his studies to the next level with a BSc (Hons) Community Health Studies (Psychiatric Nursing).
“Despite already having recognised qualifications, I had always wanted to go into higher education to develop the breadth and depth of knowledge within my field. The course content of the CertHE fitted perfectly with my role as a health professional. As a mature student, it was also the ideal way of accessing higher education at the right level for me and suited my existing personal commitments.”
“I found the course and the whole learning experience a joy and I felt that my life was starting to turn a corner. Having people who were keenly interested in what you had to say was so inspirational that I knew I wanted to continue to the next level. I have not looked back since. ”
“During my time at Wolverhampton I was a single parent so I had to be very organised, but I really benefited from the experience. The lecturers and support staff were an integral part of this; nothing was too much and no question too daft. Working in small tutor groups was a bonus and I enjoyed the support and contribution of my peers who were also all qualified nurses.”
“As part of the degree I opted to take a further qualification (Specialist Practitioner in Mental Health Nursing) which involved undertaking work placements to assess my clinical practice skills. This was a wonderful opportunity which helped me to gain a wider perspective on the delivery of mental health services, including psychiatric rehabilitation, mental health day care provision and working in a health promotion team that I would not have necessarily seen otherwise.
“It gave me such a good start professionally within my career, as well as personally in my social and psychological development. It allowed me to grow as a person and use my skills, knowledge and experience to push myself and help deliver change that has benefited services and care delivery.”
“After a 23-year career in the NHS and in health and social care, the last six years spent as a Dementia Care Nurse, I recently decided to retire from the NHS and go into teaching. In 2003 I graduated with an MA in The Management of Community Care (Mental Health), which also spurred me on. I am now a part-time senior lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University (CCCU), for their Foundation Degree in Dementia Care. I teach on the Foundation Degree in Dementia and also on other pathways such as, Continuing Professional Development for professionally qualified health and social care staff.
“When I am not teaching, much of my time is spent lesson planning, module timetabling, admin and other academic business such as, attending conferences and networking with other academic institutions. I am also starting to get back into academic development through Dementia research with colleagues which will include writing for publications. Alongside this I am also part of the Dementia Services Development Centre (South East) supporting the Dementia services in the South East. I also have responsibility for connecting with local employers who provide dementia care services in meeting the training and educational needs of their staff. I have just started reading towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education."
“In both my careers in health and social care and teaching the key skill is the ability to communicate effectively. By this I mean knowing how to anticipate people's needs and how to get the best out of them. If you can do this your half way there."
“Enjoy yourself and have fun learning. Embrace it and have faith in what you can achieve!”
