Graduation Pictures

	2002 Graduates Lesley Stannard BSc Graduate Undertaking the BSc in Respiratory care for me was a way of consolidating my existing experience and obtaining a recognised respiratory academic qualification for my future career. The courses allowed me to reflective on my knowledge and study certain aspects of respiratory disease in detail. It gave me an understanding of the principles behind research and its role in health care. The academic study facilitated further understanding of respiratory care and future pathways for undertaking research/service development projects.
	2003 Graduates Jean Sugden – BSc (hons) RGN RM 2003 Graduate I have gained both professionally and personally from undertaking the BSc course in Respiratory Care. Professionally my ability to critically appraise current research has been enhanced, thus making my practice more evidence based. This has allowed me to discuss evidence based treatment options on a higher intellectual level, thus giving me more credibility with colleagues from all disciplines. On a personal level, this has increased my confidence as well as my credibility. Six months after graduating, I achieved my ambition to become the respiratory nurse practitioner for the High Peak and Dales of Derbyshire. I now have the perfect job in the perfect setting.
	2003 Graduates Jacqui Gamble BSc 2003 Graduate Since completing my BSc, I feel I have a credible foundation on which to base my career. I am now co-ordinating a difficult asthma service and review asthma patients after admission to hospital. In 2005 I was awarded a Research and Development grant which has enabled me to undertake an MPhil project (The Evaluation of an individualised menu-driven nurse-led intervention to improve adherence in asthma). I am hoping to differentiate to the PHd course this year. I have presented my work via posters and spoken sessions at the British Thoracic Society, Irish Thoracic Society and the American Thoracic Society and a paper on my degree thesis was published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing in April 2007.
	2004 Graduates Lorna McLauchlan 2004 Graduate Following completion of the BSc course I felt an increase in confidence. The course had provided me with key skills enabling me to review and critique current literature. I felt confidence in challenging issues backing up my arguments with current evidence. The course enabled me to study chosen subjects in depth which I would not have otherwise allocated time for. This was a great asset as I was able to use some of my work in projects/reports/audits in my clinical role and in other academic work. Terry Robinson 2004 Graduate Since gaining my degree in 2004 my life has certainly got busier. I undertook a qualitative study for my dissertation and as a result of the study I was awarded the Nursing Times Respiratory Nurse of the year. The study was published in the Nursing Times, and as a result of that I was approached by Oxford University Press and asked to write and edit a respiratory nursing handbook. I am currently half way through the book and have also commenced the Masters course in Respiratory Management, again through Respiratory Education UK. I hope that my endeavours have raised the profile not only of the Acute Trust that I work for but also improve the outlook for respiratory patients under our care.
	2005 Graduates Linda Johns BSc 2005 Graduate My main reason initially, for undertaking the BSc was because it was a requirement working in the role as a Nurse Specialist. I had previously completed my asthma diploma and COPD certificate so already felt qualified to do my job as a Respiratory Nurse but the course gave me the opportunity to update myself and develop a more questioning mind, particularly around reading and understanding research articles. I also enjoyed, I can say that now it is behind me, the opportunity that my dissertation gave me to study an area of respiratory medicine of particular interest to me, i.e end stage management of COPD. The formal teaching sessions were also excellent opportunities to network with other respiratory nurses, several of whom I still keep in touch with, which is great for benchmarking practice etc. For an RGN, not currently practising at a specialist level, undertaking the BSC Respiratory Care would significantly increase their knowledge base and give them numerous skills to manage their respiratory patients better.
	2006 Graduates Gaynor Mates BSc 2006 Graduate I have been a Respiratory Nurse Specialist since 1998 working between primary and secondary care. The BSc has assisted me to continue professional development and further my academic and clinical expertise across a range of areas within respiratory medicine. I found the BSc flexible to my own needs and well supported by experts in the field of respiratory health. I have also enjoyed networking with a variety of Health Care Professionals. I have gained advanced knowledge by critically reviewing a wide range of literature, which has allowed me to reflect on my own clinical practice. As well as the weighted evidence the qualification carries towards Agenda for Change, it has also increased my confidence, collaborating with commissioners, to develop evidence-based local services, protocols and policies that enhance patient care.