Dr Janet Holt

Profile

I am a registered nurse and midwife with a BA(Hons) in Philosophy from the University of Leeds, an MPhil in Applied Philosophy from the University of Manchester and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Leeds. In my PhD thesis, I examined the attitudes of UK nurses to active voluntary euthanasia. The thesis was runner-up in the 2008 Royal College of Nursing Akinsanya award for innovation in doctoral studies. I also have a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Huddersfield and a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, (awarded with distinction) from the University of Leicester.

Prior to joining the university, I worked in clinical practice for over 15 years as a nurse and midwife both in the UK and in Kenya as well as having experience of working as a research midwife in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Leeds. I was one of the first Research and Development practitioners appointed at the Nursing Research and Practice Development Unit at St James’s University Hospital. My career in education began with my appointment as a nurse teacher at Leeds College of Health where I established the Healthcare Ethics and Law team. Following integration into the University of Leeds in 1996, I was appointed as a lecturer in the new School of Healthcare Studies and led further developments in Healthcare Ethics and Law in the School. A member of the Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), I was appointed Chair of this committee in 2013 and represent the RCN on the Ethics Committee of the British Medical Association. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I was awarded a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship in 2011.

My research interests and publications are within the disciplines of Healthcare Ethics and Law and Nursing Philosophy. I am a reviewer for a number of healthcare journals, a member of the Editorial Board for the journal Nursing Philosophy, a consultant editor for the journal Nursing Ethics. I am regularly invited to speak at conferences on ethical aspects of healthcare and have facilitated many workshops and study days on ethics and law for healthcare professionals and in secondary schools in Leeds. I am also interested in research ethics, and am an expert member and Chair of Bradford Leeds Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee.

Responsibilities

• Academic Lead: ST Gemma's Hospice

Qualifications

• PhD Psychology
• MPHil Applied Ethics
• BA(Hons) Philosophy
• RGN

Professional memberships

• Royal College of Nursing
• Phi Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau

Student education

I teach healthcare ethics and research ethics on a range of programmes across the School to undergrduate nursing & midwifery students and to postgraduate pharmacy, nursing, and counselling students.

Research groups and institutes

• People, systems and services