Rebecca Delpino

Department of Health and Nutrition

Senior Lecturer, Health & Workforce Development

Academic qualifications

RN, MSc Health and Wellbeing, FHEA, PGCE Health & Social Care, PGCE Simulation/Human Factors

Email

r.delpino@ucb.ac.uk

"I have extensive experience working in a range of senior nursing roles in the NHS, and I bring a strong clinical foundation to everything I do. My passion for healthcare education took shape during seven years as a Clinical Educator in the NHS, five of which were dedicated to advancing simulation-based learning."

I’m Becky, a Registered General Nurse (Adult) with over 30 years of clinical experience in secondary care within the NHS and a Senior Lecturer in Health & Workforce Development here at UCB. I teach on the FdSc Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship) course.

My nursing career included senior roles as Ward Manager, Ward Sister in Trauma & Orthopaedics, and Night Sister/Practitioner. My background as a Clinical Educator for seven years in the NHS, five of which were dedicated to simulation-based education and clinical skills at University Hospitals Birmingham, has given me a deep passion for simulation-based learning. My expertise spans higher education, simulation-based education and immersive technologies, clinical skills, qualitative research into organisational culture, speaking up for patient safety, student and staff support and Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE).

I remain actively engaged in research and scholarly activity, with published work in publications such as BMJ Open Quality, Nursing Standard, and Nursing Times. My qualitative research on ‘Speaking Up’ for patient safety and staff wellbeing in the NHS, inspired by my voluntary work alongside the ‘Freedom To Speak Up Guardian’, was recognised with a Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) Research Scholarship in 2020-2021. I’ve presented at national and international conferences, including the ASPiH Conference and the World Nursing and Healthcare Summit, sharing insights on simulation-based education, patient outcomes, and the role of XR immersive technologies in healthcare training. What inspires me most about our sector is the opportunity to embrace change and technological advancements, while always maintaining the fundamental values of our profession.

I truly believe that every student has something unique to bring to nursing, and I’m passionate about supporting my students’ individual journeys.

I know that our students value the practical elements of teaching offered in our healthcare suites at Moss House, especially the simulation and clinical skills sessions, the wide range of resources from interactive mannequins to task trainer models, and the well-organised sessions with supporting materials. They appreciate the enthusiasm, knowledge, and expertise that our lecturers bring, as well as the supportive learning environment.

My advice to new students is to develop strong time management and prioritisation skills from the outset, and to never hesitate to ask for help from their lecturers - we’re always happy to help.

Outside of work, my family and friends are very important to me. I recently tried an Escape Room for the first time, which has inspired me to start creating Escape Rooms for health students - watch this space! If I want to relax, I’ll typically read or watch a TV programme, and I also have a keen interest in amateur dramatics - following in my Dad’s footsteps. My guiding principle in life is: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”