Nursing lecturer Brian joined Ulster in 2020 following a career as an NHS nurse working in emergency care. He and his husband had begun the adoption approval process prior to Brian’s joining Ulster and the many variables and unknowns of the process might have weighed heavy for Brian were it not for the support of his Head of School.
Brian explains, “I was so aware that the adoption process is one in which you never can be certain of timeframes. I knew it would be nearly impossible to provide this for my Head of School. Although this could have added to the stress of an already emotive and long process, the support from my Head of School was reassuring.”
Brian and his husband were thrilled to be approved for the adoption of their daughter at the end of March 2021 and 4-year-old Ava joined the family the following July. Brian continues “It was challenging to fit moving timeframes for my period of adoption leave with workload allocation and confirmation of my modules. Since our daughter joined us at the start of the summer, this eased some pressure, although the School of Nursing continues its work into the summer months.”
During his 10-month adoption leave, Brian – a member of the University’s LGBT Network - also undertook a master's and was interviewed for a new role in the School, returning to work on a lectureship contract. Considering how best to juggle family life and work commitments, Brian was encouraged by his Head of School’s “we’ll make it work” approach, with a hybrid model enabling Brian to balance professional and personal commitments.
On returning to work after adoption leave, the Returning Carers Scheme was suggested to Brian by a colleague. With simulation learning the focus of his master's, and being a simulation champion in the School, Brian applied to the scheme and was successful in securing funding to attend a related course in Staffordshire.
A fully subscribed session with colleagues in the School of Nursing will explore simulation teaching. Brian adds, “Being able to pick up this simulation learning thread from my master's and take it forward supported by funding through the Returning Carers scheme not only enhances my career progression, but also benefits my colleagues in the school, informs active learning and supports student experience.”
Brian’s daughter is now 6 years old and well settled at home – enjoying family life with the goats, chickens, cats and dog and joining in with campus life through recent Easter summer camp at Jordanstown.
Brian has since gone on to complete his Fellowship of the HEA, and reflects on his transition from emergency care to clinical teaching, “It can be a wrench to move across from what is often a vocation in frontline care into academia, but here at Ulster we know that we are bringing our years of clinical experience to inform the student learning experience and prepare the next generation of compassionate, skilled nurses.
It’s especially important to me that my Returning Carer’s support has made possible a progression in how we can deliver learning. Our ambition is to have a simulation suite on campus, and this can only enhance student confidence and readiness for their careers in frontline health and social care.”