Dr Gemma Ryan-Blackwell

Professional biography

Gemma has a diverse background as a qualified teacher with Qualified Teaching and Learning Status with Society for Education (fellow) and is also a registered adult nurse and nurse teacher with Principal Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE). She is currently Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Nursing (apprenticeship) and Senior Lecturer in nursing. 

Her experience includes secondary, further and higher education (maths, biology, health & social care), research management, private and NHS healthcare (community and acute setting). She holds a Doctor of Nursing, MSc Professional Education and PGCertHE obtained from DeMontfort University; BSc (Hons) Health & Social Care and PGCertAdvancing Healthcare Practice from the Open University. Gemma has extensive experience in online and distance education at a range of academic levels.  Her professional doctoral study examined the concept of professionalism and social media.  

Research interests

Gemma currently works on a range of research projects with a particular interest in professionalism, accountability (including the legal aspects of this), professional regulatory standards and apprenticeships. Ongoing research involves raising awareness of, assessment and decision making for [un]professional behaviours of nurses in social media, 'e-professionalism' policy, guidance and interventions, the role of the nursing associate, professionalism and socialisation, and dissemination of an NIHR project Witness to harm, holding to account | Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (open.ac.uk).  Other interests include realist ethnography and realist methodologies. Gemma is a Human Research Authority Human Research Ethics Committee expert member.

Teaching interests

Gemma has a diverse teaching background with a particular focus on nursing, health and social care and interprofessional education in the online environment. She is also interested in the use of participatory social media technologies such as blogging for reflection in partnership with students, including the use of this to teach research methods and theory. In complement to her research interests, critical realist principles and embedding these into pedagogic practices are part of her approach to the design and delivery of online materials.  

Gemma has many years’ experience in the validation, development, design and delivery of online focused modules and programmes. She was production chair for module K*234 Healthcare theory for practice and K*805 Advancing professional practice. She has extensive knowledge of apprenticeship quality, governance and compliance having been programme leader for the Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice (apprenticeship) for six years and now for BSc (Hons) Nursing (apprenticeship).

Impact and engagement

2024                OpenLearn Course. Improving patient, family and colleague witnesses’ experiences of Fitness to Practise proceedings. Production lead.

2024                Just a sharp scratch. Podcast on nursing associates in my capacity as programme leader. 12^th July 2024. Promoting the OU programme and my research.

2024                Proud of nursing associates: who they are and why they are important

                        Used to disseminate the findings from my PRAXIS project ‘Using the OU foundation degree curriculum to support trainee nursing associates to develop professional identity’

2024                Nursing associate career pathways: not just the top-up

                        Used to disseminate the findings from my PRAXIS project ‘Using the OU foundation degree curriculum to support trainee nursing associates to develop professional identity’

2024                Witness to Harm, Holding to Account, Friends House, London, 1^st February 2024

2024                Witness to Harm, Holding to Account, The Juniper Auditorium, Dundee, 17^th January 2024

2023                Witness to Harm, Holding to Account stimulus video with a summary of the project findings.

2023                Witness to Harm, Holding to Account EdApp resource used to disseminate findings of my work package to professional regulators.

2019                DRIFT project dissemination video and embedded in K102 Block 6 Topic 3

                        This is a video animation I produced to disseminate the findings to stakeholders in the DRIFT research project.

2018                Feature in Metro Newspaper on being an OU Nurse Academic.

                        The OU marketing team invited me to be interviewed for an article in the Metro Newspaper to share my experience of working as a nursing academic while practicing as a nurse and to promote the OU.

2017                Dissemination of 3Cs rule. Being professional in social media.

                        This is a video animation I produced to disseminate the findings from my doctoral research study.

2016                DRIFT project: Nomination for ‘Health and Care in Health Tech and You’ Awards 2016

                        The DRIFT project was nominated for this award.

2015 Advertorial/Editorial for Health Times (print & online) (2015) University of Derby Online Learning is proud to value inter-professional practice and education, 15 November 2015: 14.

                        This article was published for an Australian magazine to promote nursing and nurse education. This magazine receives over 150,000 visits per month.

2014                ADHD information on social media: An interview with Gemma Ryan MedicalNews.net 24th October 2014.

                        As a result of my East Midlands Academic Health Science Network Innovation in Healthcare Award winner (mental health). DRIFT: Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter I was invited to interview by Medical News.net to be a ‘thought leader’ about the role of social media in research.

2014                DRIFT project, ADHD research on social media: An interview with Gemma Ryan, BBC Radio Derby, 23rd October 2014

                        As a result of my East Midlands Academic Health Science Network Innovation in Healthcare Award winner (mental health). DRIFT: Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter I was invited to interview by Radio Derby to talk about the role of social media in research