Ruth Smith is the Deputy Subject Leader for Nursing and Programme Lead for Nursing Associates at the University of Northampton. She is also a part time professional doctorate student and is researching nursing associate protected learning time. She did her undergraduate BA(Hons) and post graduate MSc at Oxford Brookes University. Ruth has had a really varied clinical career working across acute and specialist general medicine, surgery and intensive care. After working as a Sister, she specialised in practice development and critical care outreach. Her interests are simulation learning, learning in practice and all things related to the development of Nursing Associates. She has 2 children to whom she enjoys being taxi driver in chief and a cocker spaniel called Stan. You can follow her on twitter @RoofusSmith