My nursing career initially began in medical critical care before moving to a dialysis unit. After working as a senior sister for a number of years within the unit I progressed to an academic career.

This has given me experience in teaching across a variety of programmes and levels (critical care, medical nursing and research methodologies).

I have been involved in the support of post graduate research students at masters and PhD level. An SCQF level 11 module in research supervision was completed in 2010 to support this role.

As well as teaching research methodologies for a number of years, I have experience of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Examples of methods used include individual face to face interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, surveys and randomized controlled trials. Data analysis experience includes thematic analysis and statistical analysis.  

I undertook a post-grad research degree on a part time basis (at doctoral level). This was related to the care of people with chronic kidney disease and employed a mixed methods methodology.

The study involved a RCT based on a motivational interviewing intervention. This was followed up over a six month period and supported by qualiative data.

I have used G*Power 3.1 to calculate the sample size, Microsoft excel and IBM SPSS Statistics v22/23 to analyse the data.

I withdrew from my studies in 2021 but have gained a lot of transferable skills in the process :-)

Future directions of my research will build on current work. This will include inteventions to support long term conditions, multiple comorbidity and behavioural change.

I am keen to support and supervise those who wish to pursue post-graduate research in similar areas. 

Chronic Kidney Disease; Acute Kidney Disease; chronic disease; behaviour change; motivational interviewing & brief interventions.