Michelle Parker

Overview

Michelle is currently a senior lecturer in adult nursing with a background in care for older people and dementia. Michelle qualified as a nurse in 1997 gaining a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) at The University of Liverpool and completed an MSc in Gerontology at Kings College in 2001. She worked in a variety of acute care for older people settings as a staff nurse and ward manager and in practice education before being appointed Consultant Nurse for Older People at Newham University Hospital in 2010 and later Barts Health NHS Trust. In this post she led the Older People’s Liaison Service at Newham University Hospital and worked with Newham Memory services specialising in the assessment and diagnosis of dementia in the acute hospital setting and the management of swallowing and eating problems in advanced dementia.

Michelle completed her PhD in 2020 entitled 'We need to talk about dementia. The role of stigma and the social network in preventing help seeking for a diagnosis of dementia'. This critical realist mixed methods study explored the experiences of carers of people diagnosed with dementia during or following an acute hospital admission when they were not seeking a diagnosis. Her other research interests include promoting care for older people within nursing education and supporting the academic development of nursing students.

Michelle peer reviews for several ageing and dementia related national and international journals.

Qualifications

• PhD, City, University of London, United Kingdom, 2020
• MSc Gerontology, King's College London, United Kingdom, 2001
• BN (Hons), University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, 1997
• Registered Nurse, Nursing and Midwifery Council

Employment

• Lecturer in Adult Nursing, City, University London, 2016 – present
• Consultant Nurse Older People, Barts Health NHS Trust, 2010 – 2016
• Practice Development Nurse, Newham University Hospital, 2004 – 2010
• Ward Manager Acute Care of Older People, Queen Mary's Hospital, 2001 – 2004
• Senior Staff Nurse Acute Care of Older People, Queen Mary's Hospital, 1998 – 2001
• Staff Nurse, Royal Preston Hospital, 1997 – 1998

Award

• Foundation of Nursing Studies (2009) Award for Developments in Practice

Michelle is currently undertaking a PhD at City University supervised by Prof Julienne Meyer. Her qualitative study focuses on the timeliness of a dementia diagnosis following an acute hospital admission from the perspective of the person with dementia and their carer.

Publications by category