Rachel Birch
Rachel Birch
Lecturer
My profile
Biography
I am a new Lecturer at MMU, having recently moved from clinical practice. I have been a Critical Care nurse for 11 years, five years of which were in Critical Care Education. I am really enjoying the new experience of teaching Pre Registration Student Nurses and Nursing Associates.
I worked most recently in Critical Care at Salford Royal as a Matron and Practice Educator. During the covid pandemic I have been working clinically and have been Shift Leading the Critical Care Unit. I continue to work regular shifts in the Critical Care unit alongside my Lecturing role.
Interests and expertise
My teaching interests include:
- Critical Care
- Simulation
- Skills-based training
- Resuscitation (I am an Immediate Life Support Instructor)
- Patient assessment
- Anatomy and physiology
- Human factors
Teaching
I am the Unit lead for Developing Governance in Practice (2nd year BSc Nursing), Science and Skills for Practice (1st year BSc Nursing) and Health Sciences (Foundation Degree Nursing Associate). I also teach across a variety of other courses.
I am the AIMs champion for the Nursing Department at MMU, liaising closely with the Critical Care Skills Institute to ensure our AIMs course meets the required standard.
I particularly enjoy Simulation and Skills based training, particularly Resuscitation (I am a qualified Immediate Life Support instructor). I also enjoy teaching anatomy and physiology, patient assessment and human factors.
Courses
Supervision
I supervise Masters students on their Supervised Independent Study Project (dissertation module).
Career history
August 2020-December 2021
Matron and Practice Educator in Critical Care - Salford Royal Foundation Trust
I worked mainly clinically during this time, during the second and third waves of the covid 19 pandemic. My role as a Matron was to Shift Lead the Critical Care Unit on a day to day basis. This was during extremely challenging times, with 55 full Critical Care beds at some points. We were supported by staff from various wards, but even with the additional support, this was a challenging time in Critical Care.
I also worked a Practice Educator, working on study weeks for nurses who had started in Critical Care during the pandemic, so had not received the usual package of teaching and support. I organised and facilitated a comprehensive training package for these nurses, with an ICU patient journey throughout the week.
May 2011-August 2020
I worked as a Staff Nurse, Sister, Clinical Educator and Practice Educator at the Adult Intensive Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for almost 10 years. I progressed from newly qualified Staff Nurse, to Lead for Education for the unit during this time.
I was a Clinical Educator and then Practice Development Nurse for four years. My roles here included running the Critical Care Foundation programme, recruiting new nurses, supporting student nurses in placement and teaching MDT simulation.
I completed my Masters dissertation, Post Graduate Certificate in Critical Care nursing Practice and Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education during this time.
Academic and Professional qualifications
MSc in Nursing Studies – Distinction
Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education – Distinction
Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing – Distinction
Registered Adult Nurse
BSc Honours Sociology
Immediate Life Support Instructor