Morag MacCormick

Morag MacCormick began Nursing Studies at the University when it was the only course of its kind in Europe.

Your time at the University

I chose Edinburgh University because, at that time, it was the only university outside North America to have a nursing programme. Elsie Stephenson was the founder director of what was then the Nursing Studies Unit and Annie Altschul was the class tutor. Through these formidable women I was introduced to the sometimes painful business of developing ‘an open mind, lateral thinking and creative activity’.

The programme then took five years as nursing was not then regarded as a graduating subject. We had, therefore, to take a degree programme plus nursing studies.

When I decided to follow a post-graduate programme, Edinburgh once again had exactly the degree programme which interested me, namely an MSc in Nursing Education.

I became interested in the theory of education, and once again, I approached Edinburgh University which, luckily for me, appointed Professor Noel Entwistle as my Phd supervisor.

Through him, I met many of the researchers and scholars that I had been referencing for many years….what a great experience!

Tell us about your Experiences since leaving the University

After working in the NHS and doing midwifery training in London, I travelled abroad and worked in Israel, Iran (before, during and after the Iranian Revolution) and in Saudi Arabia. Returning to Edinburgh I spent 13 years as a lecturer and programme co-ordinator at Queen Margaret University. During this period, I also did consultancy work in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Qatar.

The decision to apply for what was a very experimental programme in nursing in 1964 was (apart from saying ’yes’ to my husband, of course!) definitely the best decision of my life.

The call of international work was still strong, however, and I decided to launch myself as a consultant in nursing education. This resulted in exciting work in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and in Lebanon where I was rescued by a British Navy warship during the 2006 war. Since 2008 I have been working with the Ministry of Health in Uzbekistan, helping them to raise the standard of nursing there.

The decision to apply for what was a very experimental programme in nursing in 1964 was (apart from saying ’yes’ to my husband, of course!) definitely the best decision of my life.

Alumni wisdom

Make sure you get a PhD supervisor who is interested in your research.