Bethann Siviter

Bethann Siviter (born 1963) is a British Registered Nurse originally from the United States; in the few years she has been in the UK, she has become a well-known nursing author, speaker and advocate for nursing students, healthcare assistants and the art of nursing practice. The author of a best selling textbook soon to go into a second edition, Mrs. Siviter overcame sudden illness and resulting disability to return to work in the demanding role of Nurse Consultant. Not content to simply return to the job she loves, she has used her experiences to highlight both problems in the healthcare service, as well as the importance of the role of healthcare assistant and the capability of people with disabilities. First coming to the UK in 1999, she became a British citizen in 2006. [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P1-122838522.html]

Societies and Professional Memberships

She was inducted into the International Nursing Honor Society in recognition of her leadership and contribution to nursing Sigma Theta Tau in 2006.

She belongs to the Royal College of Nursing as a steward. She has also been involved in the [http://www.bgs.org.uk/ British Geriatric Society] .

Education and Background

While completing her nurse education at [http://www.bcu.ac.uk/ University of Central England (now Birmingham City University)] , she started working as a student activist on the [http://www.RCN.org.uk Royal College of Nursing] (RCN) [http://www.rcn.org.uk/aboutus/gov/structure/association_of_nursing_students Association of Nursing Students] (ANS) National Executive as West Midlands representative, eventually becoming Chair of the RCN ANS(2001-2002) and Student Member of RCN Council (2002-2003).She qualified with commendation as an Adult Registered Nurse in 2002, and received a BSc (hons) in Specialist Community Practice/ District Nursing from [http://www.wlv.ac.uk/ the University of Wolverhampton] in 2003. It was during this time and as a result of difficulties in her own preparation as a nurse as well as feedback from students received in her role on the ANS that she began to write the [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0702027308 Student Nurse Handbook] in an attempt to offer support and information for other preregistration nursing students.

Employment

Her first post was as a District Nurse Team Leader (2003) in a nurse-led General Practice; in this role she started a new District Nursing team integrated within a proactive and progressive practice; she then became a Nurse Consultant in community care and the care of older people in 2005 at [http://www.southbirminghampct.nhs.uk/ South Birmingham Primary Care Trust] .

Contributions

In 2004, the book [http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/704367/description#description "The Student Nurse Handbook: A survival guide"] was published by Elsevier, which is to be followed in 2008 by [http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/catalogue/title.cfm?ISBN=9780702028038 "The Newly Qualified Nurse's Handbook"] and a second edition of the Student Nurse Handbook.

She writes about the [http://www.southbirminghampct.nhs.uk/docs/connect/Connect15.pdf impact of developing a disability] and [http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/professionaldevelopment/healthcare_2006/hav21n05p2022.asp returning to work after long illness] , on [http://direct.bl.uk/bld/PlaceOrder.do?UIN=195702700&ETOC=RN&from=searchengine the importance of care by healthcare assistants] and is a contributor to journals on [http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/students/st-v19n4p31a1.asp student nurse issues] as well as being a contributor to the RCN's [http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/78516/001495.pdf "Statement of Principles on Nurse Education"] .

She has a regular perspectives column in [http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/primaryhealthcare/otherjournals.asp Primary Health Care] a Nursing Standard family journal.

Bethann also presents at seminars and is a regular contributor at RCN Congress (the annual meeting of the Royal College of Nursing). Her most popular seminar is "Transitioning from Student to Staff Nurse", a motivational seminar intended to help nursing students through the traumatic transition from education to employment. [http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/108096/The_answer_Autumn_2007.pdf] [http://www.shef.ac.uk/content/1/c6/04/84/84/web%20nm%20newsletter%2014_10_05.pdf] .

She recently became editor of the RCN [http://guide-information.org.uk/guidelist.aspx?recid=G30235 Work Injured Nurses' Group (WING)] forum newsletter.

Additional References and Links

* [http://www.southbirminghampct.nhs.uk/_services/elderly/links/jul2005.pdf - South Birmingham PCT newsletter article]
* [http://archive.stourbridgenews.co.uk/2004/5/14/14076.html - Background to Student Nurse Handbook]
* [http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/03-10/UKnurses_print.html - NurseWeek News: Bethann Siviter]
* [http://studentnurse.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3448&highlight=bethann - Student Nurse Website]
* [http://www.healthcare-events.co.uk/conf/uploads/brochures/47_20070715-174734_Nursing_Leadership.pdf - Nurse Leadership Seminar Brochure]
* [http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/thisweek/news2.asp - Comment in article about pay award]
* [http://www.studentnurse.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=484&sid=5b4fb538126881b676b3740b6031c4d4 - Student Nurse Post referencing Siviter 2004 topic "Placements"]
* [http://targetjobs.co.uk/nursing-and-allied-healthcare-professions/articleview-39s_13a_765.aspx - Target Jobs article]