Laura Birch, recently named Admiral Nurse of the Year, shares her journey into dementia care and explains how the Hull Online MSc in Dementia supported her professional development.
In this Q&A, Laura reflects on her work, her studies, and her next step as she prepares to begin a PhD.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I’m 29 years old, and I’m passionate about promoting person-centred care for people living with dementia and their families.
At 17, I began working in a nursing home, and this inspired me to continue working in this sector. The care and compassion I saw from staff, and their ability to promote joy, engagement and personhood was something I will always remember.
In 2014, I began my nursing degree, completing this in 2018. I continued to work in dementia care, taking time to teach in a college, to develop my confidence further, before becoming an Admiral Nurse.
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses, who support the whole family throughout the disease trajectory of dementia. Admiral Nurses were created by the charity Dementia UK.
You recently won Admiral Nurse of the Year at the Dementia Care Awards. Congratulations! Can you tell us what it means to you?
Thank you, it’s an achievement I’ll always be extremely proud of. In my work as an Admiral Nurse, I support people living with dementia and their families in the hospital environment. This includes supporting complex cases, such as discharge planning, safeguarding concerns, and promoting independence.
I provide 1-1 support for families in their caregiving roles. I provide training and development support for staff, aiding their understanding of dementia and its symptoms.
I love to provide activities and engagement, very recently creating the ‘Memory Lane Times’, a monthly newspaper of memories, for reminiscence and reflection.
It means everything to win this award, and I know I could not do the work I do without the support of the team around me.
Why did you choose to study the Hull Online MSc in Dementia?
I was looking for a master's course that was flexible, alongside my full-time job. The Hull Online MSc in Dementia was a perfect fit. It allowed me to learn on the go, using their Canvas online learning environment app, where I could access the resources at the touch of a button.
I found the resources extremely useful, with videos from the lived experience panel making it personalised and extremely valuable.
What were the networking opportunities like for online students?
Everyone on the course was keen to connect. We regularly kept in touch, sharing research, new policies and our thoughts on the modules. There’s a forum where you can share your thoughts and feelings, and it allows you to connect with your peers.
How did you balance work, study and socialising?
If you prioritse, and use the resources that the university provide, this is something you can do. I found it useful to connect with the team, reaching out with any questions or concerns. I set time each week to prioritise my studies and kept track of deadlines ahead of time.
What was the support like, both during the application process and your studies?
The course advisers were there to support me during the application process with any questions I had. They helped me understand my goals and ambitions and plan accordingly.
I cannot thank the tutors enough - a special shoutout to Programme Director Ellie Robinson-Carter and Programme Founder Liz Price who thoroughly supported me throughout the journey of the MSc.
Have you been able to apply what you learned during the programme within your current job?
I apply what I’ve learned daily. It further confirmed my passion for person-centred care planning. The modules are excellent, providing varied topics to fully explore dementia care. As an Admiral Nurse, it has been extremely valuable.
How do you think the programme will help you with your future plans?
In September, I’ll begin my PhD, which is something I never thought I would be capable of. With the support of my dissertation supervisor Ellie, I gained the confidence to push myself out of my comfort zone, and for that I’m eternally grateful.
Would you describe the programme as a good investment?
Absolutely, it helped me explore a topic I’m truly passionate about and developed my confidence in this area.
What’s your advice for anyone else thinking of studying this MSc?
Without sounding clichéd, do it! It’s something that I look back on fondly and miss the weekly interactions with individuals who were extremely passionate about improving dementia care for the better.
Thank you to Laura for sharing your experience with us!
Focus on human rights, dignity and care provision with the Hull Online MSc in Dementia. Study part-time over two years:
