We might have melted in the heat during the graduation heatwave, but it was nothing for the graduates heading to Leicester from Abu Dhabi, where temperatures topped 50 degrees Celsius.

The nine graduates of the Masters of Nursing in Nephrology drove more than 7,000 kilometers to collect their prizes at De Montfort University in Leicester (DMU) last week. Temperatures were up to 26 degrees Celsius in Leicester, but back home it was a whopping 51C.

“It’s like our winter,” joked Ryan Villanueva, who like his colleagues Kaiser Alejandrino, Jacqueline Sue Cainglet, Freddie Costales, Melleril Sara Ferrer, Safeer Abdulla Ibrahim, Jerel Kim Laguardia, Madelaine Manuel, Masele Emily Ralonya several years.

The cohort was selected for the two-year masters course, which has a 100% success rate, after a rigorous selection process and combined their masters studies with full-time jobs and family life.

Ryan said: “I am really proud of what we have accomplished. Diabetes and kidney disease are big problems in Abu Dhabi due to diet and largely sedentary lifestyle. It’s a pretty warm place so most of the people are still inside. We look at evidence-based practices and that helps us when we are dealing with patients. “

Safeer added: “It was a great and amazing experience. Lots of learning. It’s not easy to study and work, but it helps a lot to be critical and apply theory to practice. “

The nurses all work for SEHA Dialysis Services, which developed the MSc in Renal Nursing with Fresenius Medical Care and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at DMU.

It was developed in response to the growing number of chronic kidney disease patients in Abu Dhabi. The course has helped raise the profile of nursing as well as improve patient care. It also leads to better results for people with the disease.

The first cohort started their studies in 2014 and this is the third cohort to graduate.

Professor Marie Richards, who is in charge of the course program, was at DMU to watch the last students collect their diplomas. Professor Richards, Director of Education / Training and Development at SEHA Dialysis Services, said: “Nephrology nurses are the largest professional group responsible for providing care to patients with chronic kidney disease ( IRC). kidney failure worldwide, which is increasing year by year, and the training of nurses specializing in nephrology is a key strategy to manage this disease burden and provide quality kidney care for the future. “

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Carol Greenway, International Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “This program is a challenge and the students have worked very hard to secure this award while working in clinical practice. In a recent collaborative review, the panel heard that they are clearly having an impact in the country because the care they provide is already helping to detect kidney failure at an early stage ”.

The course has helped raise the profile of nursing as well as improve patient care. It also leads to better patient outcomes.

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2018