Dr Mary Edmonds

Mary has a leading role in the quality of practice learning and simulation in the faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care. She actively contributes to faculty, institutional and national workstreams to promote governance for practice learning and simulation. She has published papers on practice learning and placement models and presented at several national conferences. Mary led a national simulation research project, funded by NHSE, in collaboration with the Council of Deans of Health. 

[email protected]

Background

Mary joined ARU in 2003, as a senior lecturer to deliver cardiac modules for post-registration nurses and a pre-registration tutor for adult nursing students. In 2020, as Director of Practice, Mary worked in collaboration with practice partners to champion innovative practice learning experiences. Examples include hub and spoke placements, practice learning through simulation, a primary care digital placement, a student per shift approach and inter-professional placements with the Samaritans. Innovations which have received national and regional recognition.

In 2022, Mary and the capacity expansion team won a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). The first time for ARU.

Mary was appointed as Deputy Dean for Practice Learning and Simulation in July 2022.

Mary led a national simulation research project to investigate how simulated based learning transforms practice learning in pre-registration nursing. The project consisted of four phases: a systematic review, cross-sectional survey, in-depth case study and focus groups. The ‘Simulation in Nursing Education: an evidence base for the future’ was published in January 2024 in collaboration with the Council of Deans of Health.

Research interests

• Narrative Inquiry
• Innovative approaches for practice learning and simulation

Mary completed her PhD in 2018. Using Narrative Inquiry, she explored the experiences of patients who had received a primary percutaneous coronary intervention for a heart attack, and the experiences of the family members and nurses caring for patients and their families. 

Areas of research supervision

• Professional identity in integrated care: a qualitative case study (PhD).
• Understanding child safeguarding practices of a regional group of professionals through narrative inquiry. (Prof Doc).
• An interpretive phenomenological analysis of heart failure patients lived experiences of advanced care planning. (Prof Doc).
• Listening to the voices of Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs): a narrative inquiry of social work experiences of supervision within adult social care. (Prof Doc).
• Chair for a Narrative Inquiry Forum for PhD and Prof Doc students using Narrative Inquiry for their methodology.

Teaching

Mary supervises students undertaking PhD and Professional Doctorates.

• Chair for a Narrative Inquiry Forum for PhD and prof Doc students using Narrative Inquiry for their methodology.
• From 2003 – 2021, module leader for cardiac modules covering acute care, chronic conditions, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Qualifications

• PhD, Anglia Ruskin University, 2018
• MSc, Anglia Ruskin University, 2009
• PG Certificate in Education, University of Cambridge, 2005
• BSc (Hons) Health Studies, Anglia Polytechnic University, 1999
• Registered Nurse, Cambridgeshire College of Health Studies, 1994
• Enrolled Nurse, West Norfolk & Wisbech School of Nursing, 1986

Memberships, editorial boards

• Innovation & Pedagogy Strategic Policy Group, Council of Deans of Health
• Simulation Reference Group (Chair), Council of Deans of Health
• Simulated Practice Learning UK

External Esteem

• HE Advance reviewer for Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence
• Judge for Student Nursing Times Awards, Partnership of the Year

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• Optimising Learner Journeys and Support Worker Academy projects with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System and ARU. (Sept 2024 – Sept 2025).
• Innovation of Information Sharing project with Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System and ARU. (Aug 2023 – Sept 2024).
• National Simulation research project funded by Health Education England, in collaboration with Nursing & Midwifery Council and Council of Deans for Health. A four-phase research project (systematic review, cross-sectional survey, questionnaire and focus group, focus groups) investigating how simulated based learning can transform practice learning by comparing existing learning approaches with simulated and technology enhanced learning approaches. (Sept 2022-July 2023).
• A multistakeholder evaluation of the partnership between Samaritans and Anglia Ruskin University. Funded by Health Education England. (2022-2023).

National Awards

• Finalist for Teaching Innovation, Student Nursing Times Awards, 2023
• Winner for Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), 2022
• Finalist for Teaching Innovation, Student Nursing Times Awards, 2022
• Winner for Partnership of the Year, Student Nursing Times Awards, 2021
• Finalist for Community Placement of the Year, Student Nursing Times Award, 2021
• Finalist for Hospital Placement of the Year, Student Nursing Times Awards, 2018

Anglia Ruskin University awards:

• Deans annual award scheme for Child Virtual Placement, 2022
• Deans annual award scheme for Virtual and Simulated Practice team, 2021

Selected recent publications

Harrison, N. Edmonds, M., Meads, C., Abdulmohdi, N., Prothero, L and Shaw, S. (2023). Simulation in Nursing Education: an evidence base for the future. CoDH-ARU-Simulation-in-Nursing-Education-Report-Jan-2024.pdf (councilofdeans.org.uk)

Edmonds, M., Bennett, A., Caley, K., Cowcher, A. 2022. Developing a general practice digital placement for student nurses. Nursing Times [online]; 118: 9.

Edmonds, M., and Jenkins, L. 2021. Advance rotas for students: improving work-life balance and the placement experience. e-Nursing Standard, July 23, https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/students/clinical-placements/advance-rotas-students-improving-work-life-balance-and-placement-experience-176596

Drayton, L., and Edmonds, M. 2020. Understanding the role of the academic assessor. Nursing Standard, 35 (9), pp.41-45.

Recent presentations and conferences

Edmonds, M. (2024). Keynote speaker: Simulation in Nursing Education: an evidence base for the future. SimNet Simulation4Safety Conference, Solent University, Southampton, 23 May 2024.

Edmonds, M., and Abdulmohdi, N. (2024). Simulation in Nursing Education: the findings and the future. Council of Deans of Health Spring Conference, Congress Centre, London, 23 April 2024.

Edmonds, M., Meads, C., Abdulmohdi, N., Prothero, L and Shaw, S. (2024). Simulation in Nursing Education: an evidence base for the future. Council of Deans of Health webinar, 8 Feb 2024.

Edmonds, M. (2023). Webinar for Promoting Innovative Pedagogy. Council of Deans of Health, 28 June 2023.

Edmonds, M., and Abdulmohdi, N. (2023). Exploring the delivery of clinical education through simulation in pre-registration education. Council of Deans of Health Summer Conference, Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, 21 June 2023.

Edmonds, M. (2023). Addressing student retention at Anglia Ruskin University. Health Education England, Fulbourn,16 March 2023.

Edmonds, M. (2022). Developing a general practice digital placement for student nurses. Clinical Learning Environment Strategy Launch. Workforce Transformation webinar, 30 Sept 2022.

Media experience

4th August 2022 – press announcement for winning Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence.