Award winning nurse has a “wealth of knowledge” from Leicester’s Diabetes MSc
Award winning Diabetes nurse Paula Johnston
Paula Johnston, a Diabetes Specialist Nurse, and graduate of the University of Leicester’s Diabetes MSc by Distance Learning course, has been presented with the prestigious British Journal of Nursing’s Diabetes Nurse of the Year Award.
The Diabetes MSc by Distance Learning course was created in partnership with the Leicester Diabetes Centre and draws on the specialist knowledge of the experienced and high-profile staff at the world-renowned centre.
Paula received this award for her dedication to improving patient care and being involved in innovative diabetes projects. She currently works as a lead inpatient diabetes specialist nurse for the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
We asked Paula to share her experience of the MSc course and the impact it has had on her career.
What did you think of the MSc course?
“I really enjoyed completing my MSc. It was challenging studying alongside a full-time clinical role, but the flexibility of the online learning worked really well. I really liked the fact that you can personalise the course ensuring you get the most out of it. Although there are compulsory modules, you have the opportunity to select others to make it clinically relevant. For example, I did the inpatient diabetes module as this was very relevant to my role as an inpatient diabetes specialist nurse.
“My academic supervisor, Janet Jarvis (known as JJ) was amazing and could not have been more supportive (especially because I completed my MSc during lockdown in the midst of the covid pandemic!). The whole team in Leicester are great, and there is a good mix of live tutorials, online talks (some pre-recorded which were handy) as well as time for discussions with other students.”
How do you think it has helped in your career?
“Research is one area that I had limited exposure to during my career up until I started my MSc. I really enjoyed learning about the up-to-date research in areas surrounding diabetes.”
“For the final dissertation, I chose to undertake an audit that would not only be clinically relevant, but also help with service improvement going forward. The findings of my audit have been used to make changes to practice. I was lucky enough to get my work published* which is something that I am extremely proud of.”
“I have now written a number of articles and I now have the confidence to go ahead with further ideas for case studies, for example.”
“Obtaining my MSc as well as my non-medical prescribing has also helped with my career progression, and I have been promoted to a band 8a role since completion of these. I am now lead nurse for inpatient diabetes at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and really enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning with my team members. One of my team is currently undertaking her MSc through Leicester and I can support her with the audit she is undertaking for her dissertation.”
What would you say to others considering the course?
“Do it! You will come away with a wealth of knowledge which will benefit the care that you give to your patients.”
“I now share this knowledge teaching at my local University on diabetes and pharmacology modules which I really enjoy. My MSc has helped with my career progression. I have always had a passion for education, and I feel a real sense of achievement in obtaining my MSc. It is tough, but you can undertake the course alongside a full-time clinical role.”
“I have two children and they feel really proud that I went back to university in my 40’s to achieve my goal. My Trust was supportive and during my audit and dissertation, I was given a day a week dedicated to my MSc work which really helped.”
Congratulations once again to Paula on her fantastic achievement! It's great to hear that the MSc course has been a valuable experience for her and has had such a positive impact on her career.
If you are interested in the MSc course, you can find out more information here: https://le.ac.uk/courses/diabetes-msc-dl/2023
*Johnston, PJ. (2022) Standards of care received by people with diabetes who undergo orthopaedic surgical procedures. Series of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism. 4 (1) pp. 12-36. https://seriesscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Standards-of-Care-Johnston-PJ.pdf