Anna Forsyth Soprano

Graduate of Cert in Health Project Management

Sligo

Can you share your career path to date?

I have worked in a range of homecare environments caring for patients one on one with patients who require full-time care. After this, I worked in a post-operative surgical ward specialising in post-operative care

What does your current role involve?

I specialised in ophthalmic nursing now working in a fast-paced surgical team delivering laser eye surgery and lens replacement procedures.

What motivated you to start studying?

I wanted to broaden my opportunities as a nurse and deepen my understanding of what it takes to manage a team in today’s society and work towards being the best team member and leader I can be.

Why did you choose this course from ATU Sligo?

ATU Sligo was one of the few colleges offering the certificate course to be delivered completely online. With jugging family commitments as well, this made the course very flexible for me to be able to attend lectures in my own time and do the work around my other personal commitments.

How did you find the process of studying online? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?

Studying online was extremely useful for me as I live in Wicklow and the course is based in Sligo this did not hold any barriers to my learning. The lecturers are fully trained in using the IT software and deliver the lectures very clearly. I found it very beneficial that all the lectures are recorded so if you miss a live lecture, it isn’t a big deal as you can log in on your own time. The group work was challenging at times as it sometimes was hard to arrange a good time to meet for a video call but that was the only min challenge and I was lucky that everyone on my team was very friendly and we did work as a team to help each other along the way.

How did you balance work and study?

Balancing personal commitments and the course at the same time was difficult but I found myself getting up an hour or two early a couple of mornings a week and staying up late as well some evenings to get all the work done, but it was worth it in the end.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer?

Yes, and I feel I have learned so much from the course it can only be of benefit to my current role.

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying online?

Studying online means nobody is there to check if you have missed a lecture as it might be in college life on campus. My advice would be to make sure the motivation is there within you to do the course, otherwise, it may be challenging to complete the course. Set yourself up with a plan from the beginning and pencil in times during the week that is realistic so that you can take the time to learn and tune in to the lectures.

In what way has studied online with ATU Sligo benefitted your career?

I have learned an abundance of skills, especially regarding management and leadership within the team setting in today’s society. It has been invaluable to me and I will now be able to transfer the skills learned into the workplace.

Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?

I feel more confident in my role and managing and leading teams.

Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role?

Very much so. This course, even though it is based online is extremely practical especially as there are many learning opportunities within the breakout groups. It is a very practical course which offers many life skills and coping mechanisms to deal with barriers to success within the workplace.

What were the key skills you took away from your time studying at ATU Sligo?

My time management skills have improved greatly as there are a lot of assignments to complete within a short timeframe. Leadership and managerial skills have been adapted and an insight into research methods such as quantitative and qualitative methods and how these are relevant to today’s world.