Mrs Karen Heggs
School of Health & Society
MS 1.89 Mary Seacole Building
University of Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
Current positions
Director of Nursing & Midwifery
Biography
Karen joined University of Salford in July 2023 as Director of Nursing and Midwifery. She has over 26 years experience as a Registered Nurse working across a range of care settings and roles.
Clinically, her roles have included both critical care and emergency care. She worked as a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist for almost 10 years, completing an MA in Ethics of Cancer and Palliative Care, and has also practiced as a Health Visitor following completion of a Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing.
Karen then moved into a successful academic career at the University of Manchester, where she was able to expand on her specialist interest in teaching and learning for healthcare professionals as a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing.
Whilst in this position, she took on the role of Academic Lead for Practice Development; leading on a number of initiatives to positively enhance experience for students, working in close partnership and collaboration with colleagues across Greater Manchester and the North West in universities and provider organisations. To support her passion for education, she completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Biology, Medicine and Health Sciences and gained fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
Most recently Karen has worked as Corporate Lead Nurse for Pre-Registration Education – Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, leading a large and dynamic team with oversight of around 3000 nursing, nursing associate, midwifery and AHP students who attend the Trust each year.
Karen has been and continues to be instrumental in driving meaningful change for Nursing and Midwifery across GM and the NW region; successfully leading multiple strategic practice education developments for Nursing and Midwifery across Greater Manchester and the North West, including the development and initial implementation of the GM Health and Care Learning Environment Strategy 2021 - 2024.
Leadership
The Therapeutic Relationship
Clinical Judgement and Decision Making
Supportive and Palliative Care