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Nursing and Paramedic Science technician Emma McGlinley studied Biological Sciences at Ulster University’s Coleraine Campus with a view to completing a medical degree at a later stage. After a period of ill health and the birth of her first child, Emma completed her degree but decided the time was not right to take on a further degree straight away and instead took up a role as a lab technician with Lakeland Dairies in Coleraine.

Focusing on the chemistry and microbiology aspects of her degree, Emma was testing milk, cheese and butter products for market, and testing raw milk before pasteurisation. With a challenging commute from Derry~Londonderry and a young family, after 3 years Emma moved across to a locally based drinks production lab, for which the dairy was a supplier. As a lab technician Emma was working with the processing of dairy products into cream liqueurs for sale to major retailers, and explains:

“Although it was a natural progression from working in the dairy, and the local artisan drinks industry is flourishing, I found that my real interests still lay more directly in the medical aspects of biomedical science than in food production.”

Interviewed for a technician role in the new Graduate Entry Medical School on the Derry~Londonderry campus, Emma was added to an appointment waiting list and her interest in healthcare then led to a role as technician in the School of Nursing, where she supports the preparation of technical and specialist equipment for teaching in nursing and paramedic science.

Emma adds,:

“I realised that solely lab-based work was not really where I wanted to shape my career. Lab work can be quite solitary and that’s not for everyone.   In  contrast, the learning and teaching environment of the School of Nursing is always busy with staff and students in  packed programme that blends campus learning, technical skills, clinical practice and placement.

Through my day to day work setting up and taking care of our equipment,  I enjoy supporting staff in preparation for teaching sessions and helping out students with queries and their familiarisation with the specialist learning spaces. Since nursing is a caring profession, its not surprising that the School has a friendly and supportive atmosphere for staff and students alike.”

As for her future career, Emma enjoys the role in a healthcare environment that is part of a multi-disciplinary health hub on campus, and doesn’t rule out a possible future in graduate entry medicine, adding,:

“I’m certainly in the right place to continue to develop my interest in clinical skills and the healthcare pathways. Having the clinical practice subjects located alongside each other here – nursing and paramedic science,  the allied health professions and medicine – provides a true picture of how these skills work together for patient outcomes.”