About

I qualified as a Registered Learning Disability Nurse in 1987 and spent 20 years in this field of clinical practice, culminating in a managerial role and responsibility for inpatient and community learning disability services across the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak areas. I spent four years working for a national nurse triage service, during which time I became East Midlands regional lead for frequent callers with challenging and complex needs.

In 2009, I moved into the field of neurosciences and became a Clinical Nurse Specialist for patients with complex epilepsy in North Derbyshire. I am a Fellow of an international health link and have experience teaching and working in West Africa. After leaving clinical practice in 2016, I moved into academia and became a lecturer in the College of Health and Social Care. Within the University, I have delivered public lectures about how stigma, myths, and misconceptions impact on epilepsy care in Sub-Sarahan Africa.

Teaching responsibilities

Senior Lecturer within the College of Health and Social Care

• FdSc Nursing Associate Programme
• FdSc Assistant Practitioner Programme

Module Leader for Medication Management, and co-ordinator of the Safe Medicate online platform for foundation degree Nursing Associate and Assistant Practitioner students

Professional interests

• Nursing and Health-related education
• Epilepsy and Stigma
• The impact of culture on healthcare

Research interests

• 2021 - A retrospective study 'Oro-mucosal midazolam maleate: Use and effectiveness in adults with epilepsy in the UK'
• Currently working on a research project on the subjection of enabling safer bathing for people with epilepsy. Public consultation completed 2021.
• Epilepsy and Mental Health

Membership of professional bodies

• Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities (NMC 1987)
• Registered Nurse Teacher (NMC 2017)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA 2017)

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities - North Derbyshire School of Nursing (1987)
• Higher Award Diploma in Learning Disabilities - The University of Sheffield (1996)
• BA (Hons) Health Care Practice - Sheffield Hallam University (1999)
• PG Cert. Management in Health and Social Care - Sheffield Hallam University (2003)
• Professional Diploma in Epilepsy - Leeds Metropolitan University (2012)
• PG Cert Interprofessional Practice Education - University of Derby (2017)

Recent conferences

I delivered the keynote speech at the Health Education England Learning Event for Nursing Associates in November 2018. The topic of the speech was stigma and the myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Experience in industry

• Learning Disabilities
• National Nurse Triage
• Epilepsy Nursing
• Independent epilepsy trainer

International experience

I am a Commonwealth Fellow with the Sheffield Gulu Mental Health Partnership.

I have undertaken two periods of voluntary work in Northern Uganda in which I have provided clinical support to healthcare practitioners regarding the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. In addition, I have developed and delivered epilepsy training sessions in the region.

Additional interests and activities

I enjoy time with my family, walking my dog, playing the piano and spending time on my allotment.

Recent publications

• Shankar, R., Goodwin, M., Toland, J., Boyle, A., Grant, A., Pearson J., Storer, A., Higgins, R., Hudson, S. and Reuber M. (2021) 'Oro-mucosal midazolam maleate: Use and effectiveness in adults with epilepsy in the UK 'Epilepsy Behaviour' 123, 108242
• Grant, A. (2016) 'Epilepsy in Uganda' Epilepsy Professional. Issue 42, pp 12 -17