Miss Melaine Coward

Biography

Since qualifying as a Registered Nurse I have worked in the field of Oncology and Haemato-oncology nursing. I have worked in a variety of areas including London teaching hospitals and a specialist cancer hospital. I was a successful Nurse Manager in Cancer Care managing a department which was granted the Charter Mark award for excellence twice, as well as being awarded ISO 9002 status.

Within education I have worked as a lecturer practitioner, tutor and now senior tutor in cancer care.  I have now taken on the role of Head of Programmes for CPD and Postgraduate Education within the Division of Health and Social Care.

I currently teach on programmes relating to cancer care and health care management. I have a keen interest in enabling students to utilise their previous knowledge and experiences in Higher Education.

I am now undertaking a Professional Educational Doctorate with a focus on student motivation and enabling learning opportunities. This has also led to a focus on the use of critical reflection to inform clinical practice through knowledge transfer.

Research Interests

Current – undertaking an Educational Doctorate (Kingston University)

2006 Dissertation research for MA Clinical Education (an Action Research Enquiry into the motivation of students undertaking required CPD).

1999 Responsible for the creation of a clinical trials unit in the Sussex Oncology Centre and it’s management. Negotiation of contracts to undertake National Clinical Trials, management of the team and ensuring standards of practice through the regional ethics committee.

Publications

2006 Coward, M and Coley, H Chemotherapy IN: The European Context for Cancer Treatment Kearney N and Richardson A. (eds) European Oncology Nursing, Elsevier.

2009 Coward, M (Contributor on various cancer care aspects) The Oxford Handbook of Palliative Medicine. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Teaching

Leadership and Practice Development
Clinical Effectiveness
Management and Health and Social Care Policy
Care of the Patient Requiring Chemotherapy module
Learning Through Professional Practice – Care of the Cancer Patient in the General Setting
Learning Through Professional Practice – Gynaecological Oncology
Learning Through Professional Practice – Exploring Cancer Nursing Practice
Learning Through Professional Practice – Lung Cancer
Cancer Pathway modules (Undergraduate)
Clinical Decision Making
Developing Skills in Contraception
Substantive Project (Dissertation)
Women’s Health and Wellbeing
Chronic Disease Management
Epidemiology and Health Protection in Public Health Practice (Cancer)
Leadership and Personal Development
Cancer Pathophysiology and Treatment
Innovation and Learning
Leadership and Practice Development

Departmental Duties

Head of Programmes
Chair - Board of Examiners (Undergraduate and Postgraduate CPD programmes)
Lead for Recognising educational Quality (ReQ)

Presentations

2004 “Looking After Yourself” Royal College of Nursing Emergency Care Conference, Warrington

1998 “Scalp Cooling, Body Image and Breast Cancer” Brighton Breast Conference, Sussex University

1998 “The Nurse Led Clinic in Cancer Care” 10th International Cancer Nursing Conference, Israel

1997 “User’s Court” A presentation of Cancer Services to the Residents of Sussex, Hastings