Briefly, could you please outline your course and role at King’s?
I am a third-year adult nursing student. I also serve as the Treasurer for the Nightingale Student Council (NSC), where I support student-led initiatives in the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC).
What has been your involvement in the King’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (KURF)?
During my second year at King’s, I took part in a KURF project within the Faculty, contributing to a systematic review that examined the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on nurses’ emotional wellbeing. I worked alongside two academics and another student from the S2022 cohort. As part of the project, I also created an academic poster to highlight key themes identified in the literature.
What have you learnt from KURF and has it influenced what you’d like to do after you graduate?
Through weekly meetings with my supervisors, I developed skills in compiling databases, conducting structured search strategies, and critically appraising literature. These are valuable skills that I can apply in both academia and clinical practice. Currently, my academic interests lie in clinical research and global health – I am eager to contribute to research that addresses major public health issues on a global scale.
Tell us about your recent publication in URNCST Journal, how did that come about?
In March last year, the NMPC student hub highlighted a student initiative to publish in an academic, peer-reviewed journal based in Canada. I submitted an abstract proposal on diabetic foot ulcer nursing - a condition I have frequently encountered during clinical placements. My proposal was selected, leading me to write a full manuscript, which was recently published. My article aims to raise awareness of the crucial role nurses play in managing diabetic ulcers and preventing complications. I hope to continue contributing to both public health initiatives in medical writing and academic research in the future.
What do you hope others take away from your experience?
I’d like to encourage other students to get involved with research, even if they don’t initially see themselves as researchers. The skills that you develop through these extracurricular programmes at King’s - critical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork- are invaluable in any healthcare career.