Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing

My background is in mental health nursing. I have worked in various settings including acute inpatient and the community. My current role as a Senior Lecturer in mental health nursing involves teaching pre-registration nursing students and also supporting them in practice. I work closely with practice partners to support mentors in practice and to ensure a good quality practice learning environment is provided for mental health nursing students. More recently, I have become the course co-ordinator for the pre-registration MSc in Mental Health Nursing being introduced in February 2018. Although my base is Buckinghamshire, I teach across both counties covered by the University.

I am passionate about ensuring students have a great experience whilst at the University and that when they finish the course, they feel competent and confident as qualified nurses. I am friendly and approachable and aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued and included.

I am currently undertaking my doctorate research and am focusing on recovery in mental health practice which is an area I am particularly interested in. Outside work, my other interests include spending time with family, going to concerts with friends and family and also sea-side holidays.

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse (Mental Health) – University of Teesside
• Advanced DipHE Nursing (Mental Health) – University of Teesside
• Post Graduate Certificate in Managing Health and Social Care – University of Bradford
• BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice (Mental Health) – University of Bradford
• MSc Population Health – University of York
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice – University of Bedfordshire
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching Role

• Pre-registration Nursing BSc and MSc
• Mentorship

Research Interests

• Recovery in mental health
• Service User Involvement

Recent Research Projects

• 2010 - A case study of one university's implementation of service improvement within the pre-registration nursing curriculum (Baillie L, Bromley B., Jones R., Walker M., Mhlanga F.) Funded by South Central SHA £127000
• I am also part of a research team looking at the involvement of service users in the pre-registration nursing curriculum.

Service to the Academic/Professional Community

• Book reviewer for the Nurse Education in Practice journal.

Recent Conference Presentations

• Mhlanga, F., Makaza, M. (2012) Making the transition from nurse practitioner to educator:  the benefits of having a mentor. International Networking in Healthcare Conference: University of Cambridge (oral presentation)
• Mhlanga, F. (2013) Peer Mentoring for Mental Health Nursing Students. International Networking in Healthcare Conference: University of Cambridge (oral presentation)

Recent Publications

• Baillie L., Bromley B., Walker M, Mhlanga F, Jones R (2013) Implementing service improvement projects within pre-registration nursing education: a multi-method case study evaluation. Nurse Education in Practice. Available online from July 2013
• Mhlanga, F.(2012) Book Review. Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Nursing. S. Bach, A Grant (2011). Nurse Education in Practice. Available online from 2 April 2012
• Mhlanga, F. (2013) Book Review. Graham, R.; Jenkinson, T. and Proctor-Childs, T. (2010) Contexts of Contemporary Nursing. Nurse Education in Practice. Accepted
• Baillie L., Bromley B., Walker M, Mhlanga F, Jones R (2012) The implementation of a service improvement initiative within University of Bedfordshire's pre-registration nursing curriculum. A report for South Central SHA and East of England SHA. 52 pages.
• Mhlanga, F. Could peer mentoring help to alleviate some of the challenges faced by first year nursing students? The views of first year mental health nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice. Article in preparation
• Mhlanga, F. and Makaza, M. Making the transition from nurse practitioner to educator: the benefits of having a mentor. Nurse Education in Practice. Article in preparation.

Contact Details

University of Bedfordshire
School of Healthcare Practice
Buckinghamshire Campus
Aylesbury College
Oxford Road
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP21 8PD

T: +44 (0)1296 734300