Samantha Houghton

Samantha teaches on a wide range of subjects on the undergraduate nursing programmes and across the School of Nursing and leads on medicines management modules at the University of Bolton. Prior to this, Samantha spent 18 months as a Lecturer/Practitioner working in the pre-registration nursing programme within the School of Nursing at the University of Central Lancashire. This role involved the co-ordination of, and support for, the delivery of undergraduate programmes for pre-registration and post-registration students.

Qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1992, Samantha spent 25 years within the surgical field of nursing at an NHS Hospital in the North West. From 2000, she held the lead role of Specialist Nurse Practitioner, which she retained for 17 years. This innovative role involved the advancement of clinical and surgical skills in both general and specialist clinics (including theatre). Also, providing a holistic service to meet the specific care needs of patients referred for minor surgery. Upon gaining a BA (Hons) in Health Care Practice in 2006, her passion continued as she developed and implemented competency frameworks for nursing staff, junior medical staff and student nurses. This resulted in the clinic being awarded best practice by the Trust.

Involved in the dissemination of research and audit findings, Samantha has presented to professional groups at both a local and national level. Being registered as a Non-Medical Prescriber since 2008, she actively prescribed and was responsible for, all aspects of prescribing practice in line with the NMC. Pursuing her role as a nursing lecturer, she gained MSc in Health and Social Care (2012) at the University of Bolton and continued with ardent interest to progress in the academic field. In 2017, she advanced further by gaining the Nurse Teacher qualification, thus encountering recognition by the NMC. This provided the impetus to continue along the academic route, and in 2018, she achieved the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).