25 June 2009

Graduation and Afghanistan beckon for 'GI Jane'

Jane Thomson will graduate at 10am on Friday, June 26th, 2009.

Whilst many students are forced to juggle their studies with work and family commitments, few have to do all this whilst also completing a tour of a war zone.

But that’s exactly what Jane Thomson of Elie did when studying for her Masters in nursing at the University of Dundee.

Jane (46) worked full time as a Macmillan Upper Gastro-intestinal Clinical Nurse Specialist at NHS Tayside while studying for her MSc qualification. But as if that wasn’t enough to contend with she also completed a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 as a member of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force serving with 612 (county of Aberdeen) Squadron, a surgical unit based at RAF Leuchars.

Her busy schedule doesn’t appear to have hampered her studies in any way as Jane, now employed as Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist in NHS Forth Valley, has also completed preliminary research into the effect of loneliness on head and neck cancer patients after completion of their treatment.

Jane, who has been nursing since 1981, explained her motivation for becoming involved with the Auxiliary Air Force, and for her quest to help improve the quality of treatment that cancer sufferers receive.

'I initially left school with five O levels and trained to be a hairdresser. While I enjoyed working with people, I decided to do something different. I started my nursing career as a health care assistant in 1981, trained as an Enrolled Nurse in Fife and completed my Bridging course to become a Registered General Nurse.'

'Right away, I loved nursing, and I knew that it was definitely the job for me'

Always looking for a new challenge and adventure Jane found herself as part of a team travelling to Bosnia to carry out humanitarian work in 1992.

'It was then that I knew that I had important transferable skills that could be used in any part of the world or in any war zone,' she said.

'As a new charge nurse I wanted to develop my skills in leadership, management and team building as well as improve my fitness. That’s exactly what happened, I improved leadership and fitness and in return shared my nursing skills and expertise'.

Jane has now undertaken two tours of duty in Iraq (2003 and 2006), as well as serving in the military hospital in Cyprus. Afghanistan is set to be the next stop for Flight Lieutenant Jane Thomson, as her squadron are set for a tour of duty in May 2010.

She added, 'It’s what we are trained for, to help our troops, and any others who may need specialist medical care'.

As well as offering her assistance to the country’s armed forces. Jane’s successful professional career saw her nominated and awarded Marie Curie Nurse of the Year for Scotland 1995.

Jane enjoys the support of her husband Frazer and her two daughters Maxine (25) and Cheryl (23) who is currently following in her mother’s footsteps by studying nursing at the University of Dundee.

Jane’s masters studies are the latest stage in a long standing relationship with Dundee, where she received her first Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 1998, and her Bachelor of Nursing degree with a Specialist Practitioner Cancer qualification two years later.

Her MSc research saw her investigate how head and neck cancer patients cope after treatment, how they live with cancer and how it affects their quality of life, examining whether or not loneliness is a problem after treatment is over.

This preliminary research will inform a more comprehensive study, but has already unearthed significant findings that Jane and her supervisor, Dr Mary Wells from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, have presented across the UK.

Jane will shortly embark upon a trip to Canada to present the findings, ahead of publication later this year. She said she was delighted at the latest milestone in her memorable career and looked forward to taking her research forward.

'I’m over the moon having achieved my masters, a lot of hard work. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing family, help of my patients and support of my work colleagues'.

'I’m looking forward to a long holiday and enjoying spending more time with family and friends.'

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk