Dr Gemma Ryan-Blackwell
Profile summary
- Central Academic Staff
- Programme Leader Nursing Associate
- Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies
- School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care
- Nursing
- gemma.ryan-blackwell
Web links
Web links
- Video: Witness to Harm, holding to account summary
- Video: Research into professionalism and social media
- Social Workers & Social Media: a webinar debating the issues for Social Work students
- Video: Disseminating Research Information through Facebook & Twitter
- NHS at 70: What would you fund?
- e-professionalism training: The internet, social media and you
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 Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice (apprenticeship and non-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), online social networks and social media in healthcare and healthcare education. 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.
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. 12th 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, 1st February 2024
2024 Witness to Harm, Holding to Account, The Juniper Auditorium, Dundee, 17th 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
Externally funded projects
Validation & evaluation of a decision-making tool for assessing behaviours and incidents involving nurses on social media
| Role | Start date | End date | Funding source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 01 Feb 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 | Burdett Trust Burdett Trust for Nursing |
PRISM: Professional Regulation In Social Media. AIM: Validate the A2A decision making tool to assist nurses, managers, academics and professional organisations to make consistent decisions about nursing related incidents and reported behaviours on social media. This will also serve to raise awareness of e-professionalism and manage risk. OBJECTIVES: I. Assess & validate the consistency of the decision-making tool through responses from nurses, nursing students and the public on a series of vignettes II. Evaluate the consistency and usability of the tool through qualitative and quantitative feedback III. Make recommendations for consistent assessment of professional and unprofessional behaviours on social media IV. Disseminate the tool to stakeholders through a range of methods | |||
Publications
Journal articles
A novel content and usability analysis of UK professional regulator information about raising a concern by members of the public (2024-10)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma; Wallace, Louise M. and Ribenfors, Francesca
Health Expectations, 27, Article e70027(5)
When and in what circumstances is Patient-Targeted Googling acceptable for health and social care professionals? A narrative review and thematic analysis (2024-09)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma; Jessica, Jackson and Haider, Sharif
Health Informatics Journal, 30(3) (pp. 1-14)
Witness to harm; holding to account: What is the importance of information for members of the public who give evidence and may be witness in a regulatory hearing of a health or care professional? (2024-08)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma S and Wallace, Louise
Health Expectations, 27, Article e14168(4)
Developing Education for E-Professionalism–Mixed methods evaluation of the impact of an evidence based educational tool for nurses (2024)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma and Jessica, Jackson
Journal of Nursing Education & Practice, 14(4) (pp. 1-10)
Enabling, empowering, encouraging and ennobling associate nurses: a theoretical framework to address the challenges faced by the role (2024)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma and Genders, Nicky
Nursing Management, Article e2140
Achieving shared values: a mixed methods study and multi-method model of how to effectively educate nurses about e-professionalism (2023-08-25)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 13(12) (pp. 47-58)
Barriers and facilitators to adherence to walking group exercise in older people living with dementia in the community: a systematic review (2020-09-21)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Dadova, Klara; Gracia, Rosaria; Ryan, Gemma; Borgstrom, Erica; Abington, Jane; Gopinath, Manik and Pappas, Yannis
European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 17, Article 15
Postpositivist, critical realism: philosophy, methodology and method for nursing research (2019-09-16)
Ryan, Gemma S.
Nurse Researcher, 27(3) (pp. 20-26)
Philosophy & quality? TAPUPASM as an approach to rigour in critical realist research (2019-03-18)
Ryan, Gemma and Rutty, Jane
Nurse Researcher, 27, Article e1590(1) (pp. 33-40)
Exploring public perspectives of e-professionalism in nursing (2019)
Ryan, Gemma; Jackson, Jessica and Cornock, Marc
Nursing Management, 26(6)
Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter (DRIFT): presenting an evidence based framework (2018-05-31)
Ryan, Gemma S and Sfar-Gandoura, Hanah
Nurse Researcher, 26, Article e1562(1)
Introduction to positivism, interpretivism and critical theory (2018)
Ryan, Gemma
Nurse Researcher, 25(4) (pp. 41-49)
Evaluation of a drop-in clinic for young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017-06-12)
Sfar-Gandoura, Hanah; Ryan, Gemma Sinead and Melvin, Gail
Nursing Children & Young People, 29(5) (pp. 24-32)
An introduction to the origins, history and principles of ethnography (2017-03-22)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
Nurse Researcher, 24(4) (pp. 15-21)
Enhancing Nursing Student Success: A Critical Realist Framework of Modifiable Factors (2016-12-05)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
Archives of Nursing Practice and Care, 2(1) (pp. 57-70)
International perspectives on social media guidance for nurses: a content analysis (2016-12-01)
Ryan, Gemma
Nursing Management, 23(8) (pp. 28-35)
Development and evaluation of an online, interactive information and advice tool for pre-registration nursing students (2016-03)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead and Davies, Fiona
Nurse Education in Practice, 17 (pp. 214-222)
Evaluation of an educational website for parents of children with ADHD (2015-11-30)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead; Haroon, Munib and Melvin, Gail
International Journal of Medical Informatics, 84(11) (pp. 974-981)
Review of the evidence for adolescent and young person specific, community-based health services for NHS managers (2015)
Ryan, Gemma
Journal of Children's Services, 10(1) (pp. 57-75)
A nurse-led sleep service for children and young people with disability (2014-06-25)
Ryan, Gemma; Burton, Louise and Bromley, Debbie
Primary Health Care, 24(6) (pp. 16-23)
Online social networks for patient involvement and recruitment in clinical research (2013-09-01)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
Nurse Researcher, 21(1) (pp. 35-39)
What is the effectiveness of dimethylglycine in treating autistic symptoms in children: a systematic review (2012-10-01)
Haroon, M.; Ryan, G.; Randell, M.; Wilson, J. and Khatau, T.
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 97(Suppl 2) (A183-A184)
Book chapters
e-professionalism & nursing education: The Awareness to Action (A2A) educational framework (2019-12-11)
Ryan, Gemma S
In: Dyson, Susan and McCallister, Margaret eds. Routledge International Handbook of Nurse Education
ISBN : 9780815358862 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : United Kingdom
Going 4D: Embedding the Four Dimensional Framework for Curriculum Design (2016-08-27)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead; Cuthbert, Kate; Dryden, Tanya; Baker, Denise and Forman, Dawn
In: Forman, Dawn; Jones, Marion and Thistlethwaite, Joan eds. Leading Research and Evaluation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (pp. 99-121)
ISBN : 978-1-137-53744-7 | Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan | Published : London
Conference items
A content analysis of professional regulator information for public witnesses in a fitness to practise hearing (2023)
Ryan-Blackwell, Gemma and Wallace, Louise
In : Professional Standards Authority ‘How can regulation research contribute to safer care for all?, (14 Nov 2023)
Professional Regulation In Social Media (PRISM): validation of a tool for making decisions about professional behaviours on social media (2019)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2019 (3-5 Sep 2019)
Awareness into Action (A2A): a tool for making decisions about professionalism on social media (2018-05-01)
Ryan, Gemma S and Cornock, Marc
In : 2nd Digital Health and Wellbeing Conference (1-3 May 2018, Open University, Milton Keynes)
Professionalism in Social Media: The 3Cs rule (2018-04-17)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN International Research Conference (16-18 Apr 2018, University of Birmingham Medical School)
Critical realist ethnography: from philosophy to the practice of research analysis. (2017-04)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN International Nursing Research Conference and Exhibition 2017 (4-7 Apr 2017, Oxford)
What do nurses do in professional Facebook groups and how can we explain their behaviours? (2017-04)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2017 (5-7 Apr 2017, Oxford)
Professional socialisation, accountability and social media: what’s the relationship and should we care? (2017-03)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : Nursing education and professional development: the global perspective Conference and exhibition hosted by the RCN Education Forum (21-22 Mar 2017, Cardiff, Wales)
Engaging, Listening, Informing: Using social media in disseminating clinical research to patients & the public (2016-06)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead and Sfar-Gandoura, Hanah
In : 2nd International Health Forum; International Health Conference 2016 (20-22 Jun 2016, Kings College London)
ADHD One Stop Shop: a nurse-led, multi-agency drop in clinic for young people with ADHD (2016-04)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead and Sfar-Gandoura, Hanah
In : RCN International Research Conference 2016 (6-8 Apr 2016, Edinburgh, Scotland)
International perspectives on social media guidance for nurses: a content analysis (2015-04)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2015 (20-22 Apr 2015, Nottingham, UK)
4Es of good degrees: what makes pre-registration nurses successful in achieving good degrees (2015-03)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : RCN Education forum international conference and exhibition 2015 (10-11 Mar 2015, Nottingham, UK)
Can the use of a Facebook group in addition to classroom teaching enhance exam success in a Drug Calculations module? (2014-06)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead
In : The 5th International Nurse Education Conference (NETNEP 2014) (22-25 Jun 2014, Noordwijekhout, Netherlands)
SOS: SignpOSt - Support & advice needs of Nursing Students; focus group perspectives in developing an online, interactive support tool (2014-06)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead and Davies, Fiona
In : The 5th International Nurse Education Conference (NETNEP 2014) (22-25 Jun 2014, Noordwijekhout, Netherlands)
Achieving ‘Time and Target’: Lessons Learnt from a community based, observational multi-site NIHR portfolio research study (2014)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead; Melvin, Gail; Hartwell, Lynne; Pringle, Thomas and Haroon, Munib
In : Health Services Research Network Symposium 2014 (19-20 Jun 2014, Nottingham)
Proposed research study into the age at death and cause of death in Gypsies & Travellers (2012)
Ryan, Gemma Sinead; Melvin, Gail and Hartwell, Lynne
In : Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust Annual Research Conference (May 2012, Leicester, UK)
Other
DRIFT Project: Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter (2019)
Ryan, Gemma S
YouTube/Powtoon
Barriers and facilitators to adherence to walking group exercise in older people living with dementia in the community: a systematic review protocol (2018)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Deepak-Gopinath, Manik; Dadova, Klara; Borgstrom, Erica; Ryan, Gemma; Gracia, Rosaria and Holland, Caroline
Prospero - International Prospective register of Systematic Reviews
Professionalism in Social Media - The 3C's rule (2017)
Ryan, Gemma
YouTube
Permission to be proud (2015-11-15)
Ryan, Gemma
Health Times
ADHD information on social media: An interview with Gemma Ryan (2014-11)
Ryan, Gemma and Cashin-Garbutt, April [Interviewer]
News Medical.net
DRIFT project, ADHD research on social media: An interview with Gemma Ryan (2014-10-23)
Ryan, Gemma
BBC Radio Derby
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