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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
Dip HE, BA (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
PGCE Post Compulsory Education
I have the role of educating pre-registration student nurses primarily in clinical practice settings as well as in the classroom setting. I have the responsibility of supporting student nurses and their mentors in a variety of mental health practice settings within the Buckinghamshire area of the University of Bedfordshire.
From October 2010 to August 2011, I served as Deputy Director of Placements. My role was to support the Director of Placements to develop and maintain effective partnership working with the NHS Trusts and Independent Sector Organisations who are placement providers to all students on the pre-registration Nursing and Midwifery programme. I also the Chaired the Practice Experience Group (PEG) from October 2010 to September 2011. The PEG provides a forum for partnership working between the University of Bedfordshire and key health stakeholders.
I have a student centred approach which focuses on supporting students as they link nursing theory to practice within a given practice setting. My work revolves around helping pre-registration student nurses to make the transition from student to a Registered Mental Health nurse; a role that is service user focused and is constantly developing in line with local and national initiatives.
I am a member of the Mental Health Teaching Team and I teach mainly in the Mental Health Field of Practice. I also have input into Year 1 of the pre-registration nursing programme and I teach mental health sessions to the Paediatrics, Learning Disabilities and Adult Field of Practice students. I have a keen interest in the development and support of new mentors; therefore I am a Unit Lead for the Mentorship and Supervision for Professional Practice (MSPP) post-registration course. I am also a Unit Lead for the Year 2 Work Based Learning Unit for the Foundation Degree and Assistant Practitioner Course that is currently being delivered within the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. With regards to Post-registration teaching, I am the Unit Co-odinator for “The Person centred Approach to the Care of The Person with Dementia”.
My clinical interests include Transcultural Mental Health, Service User Involvement in Education and Practice, Peri-natal illness – Mental Health in Midwifery, Personality Disorders, the Assessment process in nursing, Psychosocial interventions especially Suicide Prevention, Dementia Care, Medication Management, Forensic Mental Health and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
My educational interests include engaging in creative teaching and learning, gaining and sustaining learner interest, linking clinical theory to clinical practice. I have taken the lead in the development of Practice Education Support Groups for Students and Mentors in Buckinghamshire, which included the support of students, mentors, associate mentors and Sign-Off Mentors in a supportive and engaging environment. I have been actively involved in Partnership working with the local Mental Health Trust in the planning of and delivery of “Annual Mental Health Partnership Days”.
I have a strong commitment to contributing to the professional development of students who are fit for practice, fit for purpose and fit for award and for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) upon completion of the 3 year pre-registration programme.
Clinical placements provide students with the opportunity to develop their clinical practice. I enjoy empowering students as they acquire essential knowledge; develop nursing skills and professional attitudes in preparation for working within the field of Mental Health Practice. I am actively involved in facilitating student and mentor teaching and learning within a variety of clinical placements.
My clinical experience is in working with older people and adults in both in-patient and community settings. My Community Mental Health Nursing practice experience enriches my teaching as I draw upon a variety of areas that I have worked in and continue to work in within Buckinghamshire.
Having been a former student of the University of Luton from the time I undertook the pre-registration diploma in mental health nursing right up the completion of my BA Honours Degree in Mental Health programme, I feel that I am in a unique position to inspire students to succeed in their education and training with the University of Bedfordshire.
I have taught in Higher education as a Practice Educator on a fulltime basis since January 2005. I have participated in various curriculum development activities including the development of the joint Social Work and Mental Health Degree programme and I am currently involved in the development of the all degree pre-registration nursing programme due to commence in September 2012. My research interests include developing effective methods of teaching and learning the essential nursing skills using simulation and role play.
T: +44 (0)1296 734340/734300
E: melsina.makaza@beds.ac.uk
