Career pathways of Master’s students

Dr Tessa Muncey Associate Dean: Research and Postgraduate Education

Educational Aims of the programme

This is an inter professional programme that aims to: • Exploit the students range of skills in order to produce

enhanced understanding of roles to facilitate team building and co-operative working within primary and community care;

• Offer training in methods of post graduate research which may lead to further research at doctoral level;

• Aid understanding and appraisal of research-based peer reviewed literature;

• Prepare the student to carry out evidence based practice and facilitate research in their work environment;

• Help prepare the student to act as a leader and facilitator within their profession

Who are they?54 Graduates

• Nurses & Midwives• 5 Practice Nurses• 9 General Nurses• 5 Health Visitors• 5 Mental Health• 2 District Nurses• 3 lecturers• 1 Learning Disability• 1 Paediatric Nurse• 2 Midwives• 2 Research Nurses• 2 Genetic Counsellors

• Other professions• 5 GPs• 3 Occupational Therapists• 1 Dietician• 1 Dentist• 2 Project Officers• 1 Public Health doctor• 3 Physiotherapists• 1 Psychiatrist• 1 Practice Manager

Where are they now?

• 19 stayed in their same job

• 25 changed their job

• 2 Left profession• 10 unknown

• 6 promoted

• 9 promoted• 24 change of direction

• 7 Education• 10 New focus• 7 research

• 1 Started PhD• 4 considering

• 3 Directly influenced local policy

Ones that got away

• 3 left the country

• 1 joined a government think tank

• 1 became chair of her PCT

• Many were given additional tasks while on the course that created tensions too intolerable to continue

Outputs

Outputs

Outputs

• 27 presented conference papers

• 6 papers in refereed journals

What they said…

• I am using the knowledge acquired on the MSt in my ongoing work with drug addicts…

• I did it to push myself to new limits. I gained new critical powers, and the ability to articulate arguments in many spheres of my life. It helped me avoid ‘burn out’ and a mid-life crisis, and improved my low self esteem. I have become more reflective, though unfortunately no less busy.

• I’m sorry that the cynics ‘who know the price of every thing but the value of nothing’ ( sorry can’t attribute it but it’s a quote) are gathering like wolves.

• GP

What they said …• The MSt has left the following legacies for me:

• An ability and desire to access material at a deeper level than encountered before the MSt

• Sharpened my pre MSt ability to synthesise large quantities of complex information quickly and accurately.

• Increased confidence to speak publicly and knowledgeably on a range of subjects.

• Because of the multidisciplinary cohort an increase in professional confidence i.e. able to hold my own with a range of professions.

• The MSt was instrumental in securing my last two jobs where up to date understanding of primary and community healthcare and my teaching and learning skills were key.

• I undertook the MSt to prove something to myself first and foremost without any further expectations attached. I shall always value it as an important ‘life experience’ and be proud of what I achieved.

• Occupational Therapist

What they said…

• It has certainly enhanced my practice and performance in my present role.

• As you know the NHS us not the easiest place to work at the moment but I believe that engaging in learning and working with the master’s group has given rise to a more confident and credible me. I am certainly more able to not just forward my point of view but to suggest and follow through different courses of action at a higher level within the Trust.

• I feel that I have a more robust role underpinning my practice.

• I am more confident in leading on issues.• Specialist Nurse

…and the ultimate educational evaluation

• It gave me time to think and grow.

• GP

The future

• Post graduate education in nursing and midwifery has developed in an ad hoc fashion for two reasons.

• Firstly the move into higher education enabled people to advance their academic careers

• Secondly a series of clinical developments were believed to require postgraduate and doctoral qualifications.

The life time achievement award

• …evaluation into the establishment of the Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor Consultants where the average length of service was 21 years and the average age is 41 years (Guest et al. 2004).

Future supply of appropriately qualified and experienced nurses

• Trusts, SHA and Education to work together to identify the succession planning of leadership roles that require higher academic qualifications.

• Develop a pre registration course at M level.• Support students leaving their registration

course with First class honours degrees by providing an attractive package of mentoring, placement opportunity and career development.

• Consider bursaries or scholarships for fast track careers.