Professor Melaine Coward
Academic and research departments
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.About
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.
I have worked in healthcare education since 1999 and at the University of Surrey in a variety of roles since 2001. I currently teach on a range of modules and programmes relating to health care management / leadership, professionalism and reflection in practice. I have a keen interest in enabling students to utilise their previous knowledge and experiences in higher education to further develop themselves. This aspect of my teaching practice aligns to my pedagogical research around approaches taken to teaching reflection in nurse education.
Areas of specialism
University roles and responsibilities
- Head of the School of Health Sciences
I decided to become a nurse at age 13 to fulfil my love for people, volunteering at my local cottage hospital to wash and feed patients. After qualifying, I specialised as a cancer nurse, before stepping into higher education to train the next generation.
News
Watch my recent interview with BBC Radio Surrey, talking about the incredible work 12 of our final-year paramedic students have been doing to support the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Royal Surrey County Hospital throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
ResearchResearch interests
2017 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 its management. Negotiation of contracts to undertake National Clinical Trials, management of the team and ensuring standards of practice through the regional ethics committee.
Research interests
2017 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 its management. Negotiation of contracts to undertake National Clinical Trials, management of the team and ensuring standards of practice through the regional ethics committee.
Teaching
- Reflective practice
- Reflective learning
- Action research approaches
- Supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation projects, and PhD projects.
Publications
Highlights
Peer reviewed publications
2018 Coward, M. and Rhodes, A. Reflecting for patient care improvement. Nursing Management, Accepted for publication, July 2018.
2018, Coward, M. Reflection and personal learning. Nursing Management, Published, July 2018.
2018 Coward, M. Encouraging reflection in professional learning. Nursing Management. Published, June 2018.
2018 Coward, M. A Case Study to Explore Nurse Educators Approaches to Teaching Reflection. Submitted March 2018 to Nurse Education Today: under review.
2017 Coward, M. An enquiry into nurse educators’ beliefs, understandings and approaches to teaching the concepts of reflection to adult student nurses in UK Higher Education Institutes. Thesis submitted for Doctor of Education, awarded by Kingston University, Available at: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.713147
2017 Bolger, S., Rhodes, A. and Coward, M. Impact of a maternal sepsis training package on maternity staff compliance with Trust guidelines. British Journal of Midwifery, 25 (2): 116-121
2016 Coward, M., Crombie, A., Joy, M., Ream, E., Tremblay, M. and Wilson, P. Primary Care Strategic Workforce Planning Programme. Researchgate, Available at: researchgate.net/publication/313267621_Future_Workforce_in_Primary_and_Community_Care_Report
2011 Coward, M. Does the Use of Reflective Models restrict critical thinking and therefore learning in nurse education. What have we done? Nurse Education Today, 31: 883–886
Book chapters
2018 Coward, M. and Rhodes, A. Utilising Interprofessional learning to engender employability IN Enhancing Employability in Higher Education through Work Based Learning, Morley, D. (ED). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Paramedic practice is evolving and the number of advanced paramedics in primary care roles in the UK has risen dramatically. A significant milestone for the paramedic profession, recent legislation granting paramedics independent prescribing rights means UK paramedics are the first worldwide to receive this extension in scope of practice. Paramedic prescribing capability is expected to increase autonomy for independent case management and enhance capacity for service development. Local and national success is however likely to depend on skilful implementation and the avoidance of historical barriers. This article aims to raise awareness of potential barriers to early adoption of paramedic independent prescribing in primary care. It identifies common pitfalls prior to training and provides seven practical steps for paramedics considering pursuing non-medical prescribing training.