Throughout her professional career Karen has maintained a dedicated interest in inclusive practice which forms an integral part of effective and transformative education and healthcare. As a Senior Nurse supporting both staff and patients she was able to develop a comprehensive understanding of teaching and learning across a range of acute and community based settings. She was required to be adaptive and flexible to meet the diverse needs of learners which could include staff, students, patients and their families. This included working with service users with disabilities and additional learning needs in partnership with the wider multidisciplinary team.
In subsequent roles as Practice Development Manager and Practice Placement Manager Karen was able to develop and facilitate clinical and professional nurse and interdisciplinary education from a practice based and strategic perspective with a number of Higher Education Institutes across the region.
Later as a Practice Teacher and Senior Lecturer in Higher Education (Pre and Post registration Nursing/ Inter-disciplinary Health Education/ SENDIS and Education Studies) Karen has been able to develop pedagogic special interests, ability and skills. Although clinical and education roles and responsibilities have changed over time, Karen’s commitment and high regard for professional values, inclusive quality teaching and practice has remained a constant throughout. Karen’s varied education and practice experience is invaluable to teaching as aligned to SEND, the wider education agenda and to the evolving future education and health care workforce.