Gearóid Brennan (BA (Hons), BN, MN, RMN, AFHEA)
PhD Student / Principal's Career Development PhD Scholar
Address
- Street
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Room 2.4
24 Buccleuch Place - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9LN
- Street
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Doorway 6
Medical Quad
Teviot Place - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9AG
Background
Gearóid is a graduate of the National University of Ireland Maynooth, having read for a double honours degree in English and German. He then completed his pre-registration Mental Health nursing degree at Edinburgh Napier University. He was awarded the university medal on graduating for outstanding achievement. He completed the Master of Nursing in Clinical Research at the University of Edinburgh, funded by the Scottish Government's Chief Nursing Officer’s Directorate. His master’s dissertation was awarded with distinction and focused on the role of the mental health nurse in addressing the physical health needs of people with serious mental illness.
He returned to Nursing Studies in 2016 to begin a PhD, developing ideas from his MN dissertation. He currently holds a Principal’s Career Development Scholarship which allows him to focus on academic teaching whilst completing doctoral studies. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has gained post-registration clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) and general adult services. He works clinically as a staff nurse within NHS Lothian's Royal Edinburgh Hospital. He has a keen interest in qualitative methods, the social sciences, self-harm, solution-focused brief therapy and acute psychiatric care research as well as some of the ethical issues inherent in research.
Qualifications
Academic
Master of Nursing, University of Edinburgh
Bachelor of Nursing (Mental Health), Edinburgh Napier University
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), National University of Ireland Maynooth
Professional
Registered Nurse (Mental Health), Nursing & Midwifery Council UK
Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy UK
Responsibilities & affiliations
Member, Royal College of Nursing
Undergraduate teaching
Lecturing and tutorial input into the undergraduate nursing programme. In particular;
- NUST08010: Mental Health and Wellbeing
- NUST08013: Evidence and Research: Avenues of Inquiry 1
- Liaison lecturer for nursing students undertaking clinical placements
Project activity
Details of my PhD project are below
Current project grants
2019: Florence Nightingale Foundation. Travel scholarship. £3500
This scholarship will allow me to travel to Australia (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast) to explore how mental health services undertake cardiometabolic monitoring for people with serious mental illness. I also plan on presenting PhD findings at the ACMHN annual conference.
Past project grants
2016: Royal College of Nursing Foundation. Professional Bursary Scheme. £1376.
This bursary will allow me to develop my clinical skills in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy by undertaking a 4-day course at BRIEF, London. I then plan on utilising these skills in the acute mental health setting.
2014: Edinburgh Napier University Development Trust. Travel Grant. £250.
This was to cover the travel costs of participating at the ESRC funded “Conversations between Social Science and Nursing” seminars in Inverness, Warwick and London.
In the press
Abstract success for Nursing Studies PhD students: The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress 2019 Singapore
https://www.ed.ac.uk/health/subject-areas/nursing-studies/news-events/icn-congress-singapore
Project Title
Mental Health Nurses, habitus and physical healthcare for people with serious mental illness: A Bourdieuian exploration.
Project Details
My PhD is a qualitative study aiming to explore how registered mental health nurses working in one Scottish NHS board understand their role and practice in regards to providing physical healthcare to people of working age with serious mental illness. People with a diagnosis of serious mental illness experience higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sexually-transmitted diseases and consequently a significantly reduced life expectancy. The study draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice to explore in particular how relationships and structures within the work environment impact on mental health nursing practice and how do educational experiences and competencies assist nurses in performing their role.
Supervisors
Dr. Rosie Stenhouse
Professor Graeme D. Smith
Peer-reviewed Journal articles:
Conlon, M., Bush, C, Ariyaratnam, M., Brennan, G. and Owtram, R., (2015) Exploring the compatibility of mental health nursing, recovery focused practice and the welfare state. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 22(5): 337-43.
Conference papers:
Brennan, G., Stenhouse, R., Smith, GD. (2019). Mental Health Nurses, habitus and physical healthcare for people with serious mental illness: A Boudieuian qualitative exploration. Trinity Health & Education International Conference. Dublin, Republic of Ireland 6th March 2019.
Brennan, G. (2017). ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell!’ The nurse researcher, the Mental Health Act and the detained patient: A tale of ethical strife. Royal College of Nursing 23rd International Mental Health Nursing Research (MHNR) conference. Cardiff, Wales. 15th September 2017.
Conlon, MM. & Brennan, G. (2017). Mental health nursing, the welfare state & recovery in a ‘post-truth’ world: Even more compatible than Donald Trump and the Truth? Royal College of Nursing 23rd International Mental Health Nursing Research (MHNR) conference. Cardiff, Wales. 15th September 2017.
Brennan, G., (2016). The role of the mental health nurse in physical healthcare: A literature Review. Paper. RCN International Research Conference. Edinburgh, Scotland. 6th April 2016.
Brennan, G., (2015). Careful observer, clear reporter or autonomous decision-maker? Mental Health Nurses and decision-making theory in the use of enhanced observation: A literature Review. Paper. NUI Galway 5th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference. Galway, Ireland. 30th March 2015.
Brennan, G., (2015). "You want to do what!?! What would that look like?" Harm-minimisation & self-harm. A model for practice. Paper. NUI Galway 5th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference. Galway, Ireland. 30th March 2015.
Wilson, H. & Brennan, G., (2014). Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Peer support and resilience: nurturing the future mental health workforce. Paper. Scottish Mental Health Nursing Research Conference. Edinburgh, Scotland. 29th August 2014.
Brennan, G., (2013). “Down with this sort of thing! Careful now...” Academic Freedom, Nurse Education and the NMC: an oxymoron? Paper. Enhancing Nursing through Educational Research: 2nd Scottish Conference. Edinburgh, Scotland. 3rd December 2013.
Conference workshops facilitated:
Brennan, G. & Pope, M., (2014). Primum Non Nocere: Doing no more harm to people who self-harm. A model for practice? Scottish Mental Health Nursing Conference. 29th August 2014.
University of Stirling & Edinburgh Napier University, (2013) Practice Learning: The Ten Patient Safety Essentials. NHS Education for Scotland- The Scottish Collaboration for the Enhancement of Pre-registration Nursing (SCEPRN): 5th National Conference. 6th November 2013.