Helen Aldridge
- 01202 961016
- haldridge at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- 410
Biography
Helen Aldridge is a nurse academic and programme lead for the Registered Nurse Degree Apprentices (RNDA) based in the Faculty of Health, Environment and Medical Sciences. A Registered Nurse with extensive clinical experience in critical care, spinal cord injury and spinal surgery. She has worked in and been the lead for critical care units and critical care outreach teams and worked as a nurse practitioner in spinal cord injuries and nurse specialist in spinal surgery. She has developed new services and worked collaboratively at regional and national levels and worked in both the NHS and independent sector.
Helen has a special interest in clinical leadership, care of the individual with complex health care needs and the care of the deteriorating patient. She has been a visiting lecturer on the critical care courses at Bournemouth and Brighton universities and has been the member of several faculties delivering the Acute Illness Management (AIM©) and ALERT courses.
In response to covid-19, Helen was part of the Nightingale London faculty, teaching those in preparation for working in a unique critical care environment.
Research
With an extensive background in the field of spinal cord injury, Helen has developed a strong professional interest in the complex needs of individuals living with high-level injury. Building on this experience, She is now undertaking a PhD that explores healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the quality of life of people who require life-long mechanical ventilation following spinal cord injury. This research reflects her commitment to advancing understanding in this specialised area of care and to informing practice that supports both patients and the professionals who care for them.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Good health and well-being
"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"
Quality education
"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"
Journal Articles
- Lowe, F., Fulbrook, P., Aldridge, H., Fox, S. and Gillard, J., 2001. Weaning from ventilation: a nurse-led protocol. Connect the world of critical care, 1 (4), 124-133.
Chapters
- Tait, D. and Aldridge, H., 2025. The person who needs respiratory support. In: Tait, D., Norris, C. and Barton, D., eds. Acute and Critical Care in Adult Nursing. Learning Matters Limited.
- Tait, D. and Aldridge, H., 2025. The person in shock. In: Tait, D., Norris, C. and Barton, D., eds. Acute and Critical Care in Adult Nursing. Learning Matters Limited.
- Tait, D. and Aldridge, H., 2025. The person with sepsis and septic shock. In: Tait, D., Norris, C. and Barton, D., eds. Acute and Critical Care in Adult Nursing. Learning Matters Limited.
- Tait, D. and Aldridge, H., 2025. The person with delirium. In: Tait, D., Norris, C. and Barton, D., eds. Acute and Critical Care in Adult Nursing. Learning Matters Limited.
- Board, M., Dew, R., Aldridge, H., Lucas, E., McEwan, S., Tauringana, M. and hall, E., 2025. Supporting People with Dementia in Hospital - staff resource workbook. BU.
Conferences
- Board, M., Dew, R., Aldridge, H., Lucas, E. and Adcock, D., 2025. SERVED Supporting Evidence-based Research for Veterans Experiencing Dementia. Addressing the Unique Needs of Veterans with Dementia: A Scoping Review and Pilot Study on Healthcare Access, Support, and Quality of Life. In: Veterans' Mental Health Conference 19 May 2025 Kings College London.
- Board, M., Dew, R.E.B.E.C.C.A., Aldridge, H., Lucas, E. and Muldoon, R., 2024. Building Empathy Through Virtual Reality: Enhancing Understanding of Dementia Care in Hospital Settings. In: EuGMS SIG on Education and Training 28 November 2024 online.
Profile of Teaching PG
- Helen contributes to postgraduate teaching on the Critical Care programme, where her teaching supports nurses in developing specialist knowledge in the care of those with a spinal cord injury. In addition, she leads study days on blood test analysis and a Spinal Cord Injury, enabling learners to deepen their understanding of applied knowledge in these specialist areas. Helen’s teaching emphasises evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and professional confidence in complex clinical contexts.
Profile of Teaching UG
- Helen is unit lead for Clinical Leadership and Management (CL&M) and Making Change Through Clinical Leadership and Management (MCTCL&M) on the pre- registration nursing programmes. She also teaches on a variety of subjects including Applied Health Care Sciences
Invited Lectures
-
Moral Courage, Edinburgh, 16 Sep 2019 more
ABSTRACT On the 4th March 2018, the peace and quiet of the beautiful medieval city of Salisbury was shattered. The local district hospital was thrown into the centre of what was to become the longest running major incident ever experienced in the NHS. This talk will present a timeline of those events, from the admission of the initial three casualties, to the international focus that followed when it transpired they had been poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. Told from the perspective of the lead ITU nurse, ITU Consultant and the unit’s Clinical Psychologist, the talk will follow the theme of moral courage, highlighting some of the obvious and perhaps less obvious challenges that arose over the next three months. On 30th June 2018, just when it was all deemed to be over, two further victims of Novichok poisoning were admitted to Salisbury District Hospital. The timeline will go on to revisit those themes of moral courage and how the medical, logistical and personal challenges evolved throughout the second episode and beyond. BACCN Conference 2019 Edinburough
Internal Responsibilities
- Fitness to Practice Lead for Adult Nursing, Professional Conduct Group
Memberships
- International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS), Full (2025-), https://www.iscos.org.uk/
- British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN), Member (1997-),
- MASCIP, Member,
- Nursing and Midwifery Council, Member,
- Royal College of Nursing, Member,