About

I am the Acting Discipline Lead for Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing

Teaching responsibilities

I am involved in learning and teaching activities across the mental health and learning disability programmes at BSc and MSc level

Professional interests

I am a peer reviewer for several journals, including Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (top 10 reviewer), Mental Health Review Journal, and Mental Health Practice (RCN)

I have also reviewed book proposals for Emerald Publishing and book proposals, submissions, and publications for Open University Press

Research interests

I am particularly interested in the history of Mental Health Nursing and am currently engaged in PhD study looking at the development of Mental Health Nurses' professional identity in a recent historical context, focussing on the period during and after the closure of the asylums

Membership of professional bodies

• Member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Psychology - Sheffield Hallam University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing - Sheffield Hallam University
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education - University of Derby
• Postgraduate Certificate in Interpersonal and Counselling Skills - Leeds Beckett University
• MSc Nursing Studies - Sheffield Hallam University 
• I have also completed the Mary Seacole Programme with the NHS Leadership Academy 

Currently undertaking PhD study

Recent conferences

I have presented at two conferences on the subject of Augmented and Virtual Reality in Simulated Practice. 

• November 2020: Presented at Media & Learning Online: "Experiences and practice in using AR and VR in Higher Education"
• September 2021: Presenting at NET2021: "Using immersive video to develop empathy in mental health nursing students within simulated practice sessions" - Educational enhancement

Experience in industry

I qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 2009. During my career, I have worked in acute inpatient services; as a community psychiatric nurse for an older adult service; in crisis and liaison psychiatry services; and as a ward manager on an older adult functional acute ward.

Additional interests and activities

I am a trustee for The Elm Foundation, which is a domestic abuse charity in Chesterfield and sit on their board of trustees overseeing the running of the organisation.

In the media

I have been interviewed by The Daily Mail in relation to my published work on autism:

• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10213825/Why-women-diagnosed-autism-mid-life.html

I was also invited to meet with HRH the Duchess of Cambridge when she visited the University to discuss student mental health during the pandemic:

• https://www.itv.com/news/2020-10-06/kate-middleton-checks-in-on-student-mental-health-amid-covid-quarantine-on-visit-to-university-of-derby

Recent publications

My MSc dissertation was titled: Ethical dilemmas in nursing people given ECT: a critical realist review of qualitative evidence, and is available at: 

• Sweetmore V. (2021). What are the ethical dilemmas in the decision-making processes of nursing people given electroconvulsive therapy? A critical realist review of qualitative evidence. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 10.1111/jpm.12778. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12778

I also have an interest in autism in relation to Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing and have a lived experience narrative published on the subject available here:

• Sweetmore V. (2021). Mental health nursing and autism: I am a mental health nurse so why did it take me so long to realize I'm autistic?. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 10.1111/jpm.12762. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12762